Now Vanderberg stared at him, and Bose and the men stared, and a moment of heavy silence settled upon them all. But Frontin’s smile grew more saturnine. “What d’ye mean?” growled Vanderberg, meeting the icy stab of those blue eyes. “The bark’s new and uncommon stout,” said Crawford quietly. “No better ship could be found to batter ice. The ketch is near as large as this craft of yours and an even better sailer. I’ve put no lack of supplies aboard her; indeed, I took her for your use. Move your guns into her and head south or to the devil. I’ll take the bark, with my eight Irish and five of the English who want to fare with me to Hudson Bay----” Vanderberg’s eyes blazed. “Eh? Take the bark? I say you shall not.” And his big fist crashed down on the table, while the men around uttered blasphemous approval. Vanderberg bawled at the men for silence, reduced himself to calmness by an effort, and turned to Crawford. “Hark’ee!” said he, leaning forward over the table and giving look for look. “One thing ye forgot. All of us are sworn to certain articles. Any of us may quit the ship whenever he chooses; but company property’s another thing. The bark belongs to all of us.” “Ay!” chimed up a chorus of voices. But Crawford laughed a little. “Who’s sworn? Not I. To perdition with your buccaneering articles! As for the bark beings yours--who took her? I did, and I mean to have her. But listen, all of ye! I’ll be fair. What’s my share of that gold up above?” “One third to Frontin as discoverer,” said the Captain promptly. “The rest in shares. Five to me, two to each officer, one to each man. We voted you an extra share.” “You are generous, and I thank you,” said Crawford drily. “But I’ll turn back my three shares and take the bark instead. How’s that, lads? Vote on it!” There was a howl of dissent at this, and Vanderberg grinned nastily. He had viewed that bark with a seaman’s eye, as had they all, and had found her better than good. Then a sudden thought struck him. “Why did ye not run with her when ye had her, Crawford?” Crawford shrugged lightly. “Why? What I want I take--I don’t steal. Bose, will ye go to the bay with me?” “Nay, sink me if I will!” cried out the big ruffian swiftly. “To a land of ice where devils play all the Winter, and there’s but a week i’ the year a ship can pass the straits? Not me!” Crawford looked at Frontin, but the latter made no sign. So he sent his gaze again to Vanderberg, and what he read in the latter’s face told him there was storm ahead. “Take the ketch, Crawford,” said Vanderberg, grasping at this bright thought. “Ye could not work the bark with so few men, anyhow. Take the ketch, and what ye will of the stores. How’s that, lads?” “Ay!” roared up the sudden yell, but Crawford only smiled frostily at them. “I take the bark,” said he quietly. “Settle it as ye will,” said Frontin, laughing, and caught a mug from the table. “I’m up above for a dram.”