Over the way there, to
men contemplating that passage in an open boat, all
kinds of misery, and the fear of death and of madness,
brooded.
A serious company sat down to breakfast; but the
captain helped his neighbours with a smile.
"Now, boys," he said, after a pull at the hot coffee,
"we're done with this CURRENCY LASS and no mistake.
One good job: we made her pay while she lasted, and she
paid first-rate; and if we were to try our hand again,
we can try in style. Another good job: we have a fine,
stiff, roomy boat, and you know who you have to thank
for that. We've got six lives to save, and a pot of
money; and the point is, where are we to take 'em?"
"It's all two thousand miles to the nearest of the
Sandwiches, I fancy," observed Mac.
"No, not so bad as that," returned the captain. "But
it's bad enough; rather better'n a thousand."
"I know a man who once did twelve hundred in a boat,"
said Mac, "and he had all he wanted. He fetched ashore
in the Marquesas, and never set a foot on anything
floating from that day to this.
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