Mr. Bates at that moment came out of the caboose. He grinned as he walked aft and said, in his slow way, ‘I never expected to turn cook when I shipped as chief officer, Miss Johnstone. But the galley fire must be seen to if we’re to have hot water for a cup of tea. You seem the better for your sleep.’ And he stationed himself alongside of me, first casting a look upon the compass and then glancing aloft. The breeze had freshened whilst I slept; the swell was no stronger, but now the wind was freckling it with little featherings and dartings of foam. The brig was making good way, and hissed smartly onward. The west was rich with hot colours, and the sun hung there in a rayless, swollen mass, not distorted, but so huge that it filled me with wonder. Many little clouds, coloured to the complexion of blood, sailed across our mast-heads into the deepening violet of the east, where the ocean flowed like a sea of gilt--a marvellous contrast with the blue it brimmed to. ‘It reminds me,’ said Mr. Bates, pointing to it, ‘of a Chinese plain in the rice harvest.’ ‘We are under the sail of the morning,’ said I. ‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘But I expect we’ll roll up the topgallant-sail and mainsail when Butler wakes up.’ ‘Shall the four of us be able to manage till we reach Tristan?’ said I. Mr. Bates gazed at me thoughtfully without speech. ‘Marian,’ said my cousin, ‘can’t you get this island scheme out of Butler’s head?’ ‘I like it!’ I cried quickly. ‘The island’s a long way off,’ said Mr. Bates. ‘How far?’ said I. ‘About two thousand miles, Miss Johnstone.’ ‘How long will it take us to get there?’ ‘Perhaps a fortnight, perhaps a month,’ answered Mr. Bates. ‘I’m jolly sorry now,’ said Will, sinking his voice, ‘that we fell in with this brig. Not but that she isn’t deucedly useful and the very bucket to pray for--with such a cargo in her hold to salve, too, not to speak of the hooker herself--if it wasn’t for that smothering island of Tristan. But you’re never in earnest in deciding to settle there?’ ‘Shall we be able to manage without further help, Mr. Bates?’ said I. ‘Why,’ said he, ‘it’ll be a tight fit. You’re pleased to speak of four of us.’ He smiled and gazed up at the masts. ‘Call us three sailors and four helmsmen. But at sea what must be done often will be done.’ ‘If Captain Butler will let me wear my boy’s clothes,’ said I, ‘I’ll go aloft and try to be of use. But you can’t climb in petticoats, Mr. Bates.’ ‘Marian, Butler will do anything for you,’ said Will. ‘Clap a purchase on his love and rouse this beastly island scheme out of him. We want to get home.’ ‘Who?’ I asked. ‘Mr. Bates and I.’ ‘I am pledged to stand by Captain Butler, Johnstone,’ said the mate. ‘He saved my life, and I’ll stick to him till he sees his way to let me go.’ I seized the worthy man’s hand and pressed it.