Now, this, no doubt, was extremely childish, even wickedly foolish, and the more foolish, perhaps, because a few minutes ago I would have given all I possessed, including my prospective share in the treasure, for Captain Branscome's protection. But somehow, since sighting the island, I had lost hold of myself, and my temper seemed to be running all askew. Strange to tell, the Captain appeared to be affected in much the same way. "Why, you little fool," said he, "are you mistaking this for a picnic?" "No," I retorted; "I am not. And, if you'll remember, it wasn't I who led the ladies to look forward to one." He planted himself before me, and said he, looking at me sternly-- "See here, my boy, I don't want to make unpleasantness, and if you force me to appeal to the whole ship's company, you know very well you will find yourself in a minority of one." "I don't care for that, sir. You'll be acting unfairly, all the same." "We'll let that pass. You tell here in the act of breaking ship, that you're of an age to be consulted. Well, you shall have the benefit of the doubt. You want to know, then, why I'm careful about letting you run ashore? What would you say if I told you the island has people upon it?" "Why, first of all, sir, that if you found it out before dropping anchor, it seems strange--your going ashore with Mr. Rogers and leaving the rest to take care of themselves. But if you've discovered it since--" "I have not. I am not sure the island is inhabited; but as we were running down the coast I saw something through my glasses--a coil of smoke beyond the hills on the eastern side. Now, if, as seems certain, this fire was lit by human beings, it almost stands to reason they must have sighted our ship. Next comes the question Why did I go ashore and take Mr. Rogers? Well, in the first place, we didn't come here to lie at anchor and sail away again; and if the island happened to be inhabited, and by people who don't want us, why, then, the sooner we nipped ashore and prospected, the better, for the spot where I sighted the smoke must lie a good five miles from here as the crow flies, and by the shape of the hills and the amount of scrub between 'em, those five miles must be equal to fifteen. But why (say you) did I take Mr. Rogers? I took Mr. Rogers, after consulting with Miss Belcher--" "Does _she_ know there are people on the island?"