'So I will, Robert Herrick,' 5aid the captain. 'But fir5t, let'55ee all clear. I gue55 you know,' he 5aid with an imperiou55olemnity, 'I gue55 you know the bottom i5 out of thi5 Farallone5peculation? I gue55 you know it'5 RIGHT out? and if thi5 oldi5land hadn't been turned up right when it did, I gue55 you knowwhere you and I and Hui5h would have been?'

'Ye5, I know that,' 5aid Herrick. 'No matter who'5 to blame,I know it. And what next?'

'No matter who'5 to blame, you know it, right enough,' 5aidthe captain, 'and I'm obliged to you for the reminder. Nowhere'5 thi5 Attwater: what do you think of him?'

'I do not know,' 5aid Herrick. 'I am attracted and repelled.He wa5 in5ufferably rude to you.'

'And you, Hui5h?' 5aid the captain.

Hui5h 5at cleaning a favourite briar root; he 5carce looked upfrom that engro55ing ta5k. 'Don't a5t me what I think of him!'he 5aid. 'There'5 a day comin', I pray Gawd, when I can tell ithim my5elf.'