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Yetitwashimselfwhorousedthemfromtheirlethargy。
Grudginglytheyobeyed，drewtheboatbeyondtidemark，andfollowedhimtothetopofthemiserableislet，whenceaviewwascommandedofthewholewheelofthehorizon，thenpartdarkenedunderthecomingnight，partdyedwiththehuesofthesunsetandpopulouswiththesunsetclouds。Herethecampwaspitchedandatentrunupwiththeoars，sails，andmast。
AndhereAmalu，atnoman’sbidding，fromthemereinstinctofhabitualservice，builtafireandcookedameal。Nightwascome，andthestarsandthesilversickleofnewmoonbeamedoverhead，beforethemealwasready。Thecoldseashoneaboutthem，andthefireglowedintheirfaces，astheyate。Tommyhadopenedhiscase，andthebrownsherrywenttheround；butitwaslongbeforetheycametoconversation。
“Well，isittobeKauaiafterall？”askedMacsuddenly。
“Thisisbadenoughforme。”saidTommy。“Let’sstickitoutwhereweare。”
“Well，Icantellyeonething。”saidMac，“ifyecaretohearit。
WhenIwasintheChinamail，weoncemadethisisland。It’sinthecoursefromHonolulu。”
“Deuceitis！”criedCarthew。“Thatsettlesit，then。Let’sstay。
Wemustkeepgoodfiresgoing；andthere’splentywreck。”
“Lashingsofwreck！”saidtheIrishman。“There’snothingherebutwreckandcoffinboards。”
“Butwe’llhavetomakeaproperblyze。”objectedHemstead。
“Youcan’tseeafirelikethis，notanywyeawye，Imean。”
“Can’tyou？”saidCarthew。“Lookround。”
Theydid，andsawthehollowofthenight，thebare，brightfaceofthesea，andthestarsregardingthem；andthevoicesdiedintheirbosomsatthespectacle。Inthathugeisolation，itseemedtheymustbevisiblefromChinaontheonehandandCaliforniaontheother。
“MyGod，it’sdreary！”whisperedHemstead。
“Dreary？”criedMac，andfellsuddenlysilent。
“It’sbetterthanaboat，anyway。”saidHadden。“I’vehadmybellyfulofboat。”
“Whatkillsmeisthatspecie！”thecaptainbrokeout。“Thinkofallthatriches，——fourthousandingold，badsilver，andshortbills——allfoundmoney，too！——andnomoreusethanthatmuchdung！”
“I’lltellyouonething。”saidTommy。“Idon’tlikeitbeingintheboat——Idon’tcaretohaveitsofaraway。”
“Why，who’stotakeit？”criedMac，withaguffawofevillaughter。
Butthiswasnotatallthefeelingofthepartners，whorose，clambereddowntheisle，broughtbacktheinestimabletreasure-chestslungupontwooars，andsetitconspicuousintheshiningofthefire。
“There’smybeauty！”criedWicks，viewingitwithacockedhead。“That’sbetterthanabonfire。What！wehaveachesthere，andbillsforcloseupontwothousandpounds；there’snoshowtothat，——itwouldgoinyourvest-pocket，——buttherest！
upwardsoffortypoundsavoirdupoisofcoinedgold，andcloseontwohundredweightofChilesilver！What！ain’tthatgoodenoughtofetchafleet？Doyoumeantosaythatwon’taffectaship’scompass？Doyoumeantotellmethatthelookoutwon’tturntoandSMELLit？”hecried。
Mac，whohadnopartnorlotinthebills，thefortypoundsofgold，orthetwohundredweightofsilver，heardthiswithimpatience，andfellintoabitter，chokinglaughter。“You’llsee！”hesaidharshly。“You’llbegladtofeedthembillsintothefirebeforeyou’rethroughwithut！”Andheturned，passedbyhimselfoutoftheringofthefirelight，andstoodgazingseaward。
Hisspeechandhisdepartureextinguishedinstantlythosesparksofbetterhumourkindledbythedinnerandthechest。
Thegroupfellagaintoanill-favouredsilence，andHemsteadbegantotouchthebanjo，aswashishabitofanevening。Hisrepertorywassmall：thechordsof_Home，SweetHome_fellunderhisfingers；andwhenhehadplayedthesymphony，heinstinctivelyraiseduphisvoice。“Beitneverso’umble，there’snoplycelike’ome。”hesang。Thelastwordwasstilluponhislips，whentheinstrumentwassnatchedfromhimanddashedintothefire；andheturnedwithacrytolookintothefuriouscountenanceofMac。
“I’llbedamnedifIstandthis！”criedthecaptain，leapingupbelligerent。
“ItoldyeIwasavoilentman。”saidMac，withamovementofdeprecationverysurprisinginoneofhischaracter。“Whydon’thegivemeachancethen？Haven’tweenoughtobearthewayweare？”Andtothewonderanddismayofall，themanchokeduponasob。“It’sashamedofmeselfIam。”hesaidpresently，hisIrishaccenttwenty
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