When you get anigh the island, you will fire a gun and sing out for the Captain.""Quite needless," interposed a voice from the sea. "The Captain is here!"Without taking the slightest notice of the astonishment that he had caused, the commander of the _Fortuna_ paddled his canoe to the side of the ship. Instead of ascending to the deck, he stepped into the boat, waiting alongside. "Lend me your pistols,"he said quietly to the second officer, "and oblige me by taking your men back to their duties on board." He looked up at Mr. Duncalf and gave some further directions. "If there is any change in the weather, keep the ship standing off and on, at a safe distance from the land, and throw up a rocket from time to time to show your position. Expect me on board again by sunrise.""What!" cried the mate. "Do you mean to say you are going back to the island--in that boat--all by yourself?""I am going back to the island," answered the Captain, as quietly as ever; "in this boat--all by myself." He pushed off from the ship, and hoisted the sail as he spoke.
"You're deserting your duty!" the old sea-dog shouted, with one of his loudest oaths.
