By the 2nd February, in the dark hours of the morning watch, the clouds were all blown by; the sun rose glorious; and once more the castaways sat by a quick fire, and drank hot coffee with the greed of brutes and sufferers.  Thenceforward their affairs moved in a routine.  A fire was constantly maintained; and this occupied one hand continuously, and the others for an hour or so in the day.  Twice a day, all hands bathed in the lagoon, their chief, almost their only pleasure.  Often they fished in the lagoon with good success.  And the rest was passed in lolling, strolling, yarns, and disputation.  The time of the China steamers was calculated to a nicety; which done, the thought was rejected and ignored.  It was one that would not bear consideration.  The boat voyage having been tacitly set aside, the desperate part chosen to wait there for the coming of help or of starvation, no man had courage left to look his bargain in the face, far less to discuss it with his neighbours.  But the unuttered terror haunted them; in every hour of idleness, at every moment of silence, it returned, and breathed a chill about the circle, and carried men’s eyes to the horizon.  Then, in a panic of self-defence, they would rally to some other subject.  And, in that lone spot, what else was to be found to speak of but the treasure?

That was indeed the chief singularity, the one thing conspicuous in their island life; the presence of that chest of bills and specie dominated the mind like a cathedral; and there were besides connected with it, certain irking problems well fitted to occupy the idle.  Two thousand pounds were due to the Sydney firm:  two thousand pounds were clear profit, and fell to be divided in varying proportions among six.  It had been agreed how the partners were to range; every pound of capital subscribed, every pound that fell due in wages, was to count for one “lay.”  Of these, Tommy could claim five hundred and ten, Carthew one hundred and seventy, Wicks one hundred and forty, and Hemstead and Amalu ten apiece:  eight hundred and forty “lays” in all.  What was the value of a lay?  This was at first debated in the air and chiefly by the strength of Tommy’s lungs.  Then followed a series of incorrect calculations; from which they issued, arithmetically foiled, but agreed from weariness upon an approximate value of 2 pounds, 7 shillings 7 1/4 pence.  The figures were admittedly incorrect; the sum of the shares came not to 2000 pounds, but to 1996 pounds, 6 shillings:  3 pounds, 14 shillings being thus left unclaimed.  But it was the nearest they had yet found, and the highest as well, so that the partners were made the less critical by the contemplation of their splendid dividends.  Wicks put in 100 pounds and stood to draw captain’s wages for two months; his taking was 333 pounds 3 shillings 6 1/2 pence.  Carthew had put in 150 pounds:  he was to take out 401 pounds, 18 shillings 6 1/2 pence.  Tommy’s 500 pounds had grown to be 1213 pounds 12 shillings 9 3/4 pence; and Amalu and Hemstead, ranking for wages only, had 22 pounds, 16 shillings 1/2 pence, each.