‘I trust,’ said I, my feigned air of carelessness vanishing before the real consternation that was now active in me, ‘that the sailors will not obstruct my earnest desire for the lady’s sake, as well as for my own, to make for Rio as promptly as possible. Miss Temple and I have met with some cruel experiences, and we are as badly off even now, aboard this smart little barque, as we were in the wreck from which you rescued us. In God’s name, Mr. Lush, let there be no unreasonable hindrance to our speedy arrival at a port whence we may take shipping for home.’ ‘I have said,’ he responded in his sulkiest manner, ‘that it ain’t a question for one man nor for two men, but for all hands.’ I witnessed stubbornness that was to be easily developed into insolence strong in the ruffian’s face, and bit my lip to silence my tongue. After a short pause I said: ‘I observe that the decks have not been washed down.’ ‘No; that’s right. They han’t been washed down.’ ‘When is the body of the captain to be buried?’ ‘He is buried,’ he answered; and then went on, as though perceiving that some explanation was necessary: ‘No good in keeping a human corpse aboard ship. ‘Tain’t lucky. ‘Tain’t lucky, even if so be as it’s the human corpse of a good man; but when it comes to the body of the likes of _him_‘—— He spat over the rail. ‘He was rolled up in canvas and dropped overboard two hours since.’ ‘A dog’s funeral!’ said I, betwixt my teeth. ‘A dog’s funeral’s all that the best sailor must expect; the treatment of a dog when he’s alive, and a mongrel’s burial when he’s dead.’ ‘Well, I’m here to relieve you,’ said I. ‘Wilkins will bring my breakfast on deck.’ ‘All right,’ he answered. ‘Suppose we call it nine o’clock for the council that’s to be held?’ I turned from him, assenting with a gesture, and walked aft, miserably sick at heart, to receive Miss Temple, who at that moment appeared in the companion way. She instantly perceived by my face that there was something gravely wrong with us, and fixed a look of nervous passionate inquiry upon me. There was no purpose to be served by concealing my fears from her—fears which, shapeless as they might now be, were, I did not question, to be converted presently into bitter convictions. I took her hand and conducted her to the skylight, where we were out of earshot of the helmsman. ‘I am afraid,’ said I, ‘that the death of Captain Braine has thickened the problem of this adventure for us.’ ‘What has happened?’ she demanded. ‘When I went below at four o’clock this morning,’ I replied, ‘the _Lady Blanche_ was looking up for the port of Rio as closely as the wind permitted her. Since then, Mr. Lush has taken it upon himself to alter the vessel’s course, and we need but another point or two of southing to be sailing straight away—down the South Atlantic Ocean.’ ‘But the ship is _now_ being steered for Rio?’ ‘No.’