“I remain here.  The captain of the Mare Nostrum, has sold himself with his vessel.”

Toni made a distressed gesture.  For a moment he almost believed that Ferragut wanted to get rid of him and was discontented with his services.  But the captain hastened to explain further.

Because the Mare Nostrum belonged to a neutral country, it could not be sold to one of the belligerent nations while hostilities lasted.  Because of this, he had transferred it in a way that would not make it necessary to change the flag.  Although no longer its owner, he would stay on board as its captain, and the ship would continue to be Spanish the same as before.

“And why must I go away?” asked Toni in a tremulous tone, believing himself overlooked.

“We are going to sail armed,” replied Ulysses energetically.  “I have made the sale on that account more than for the money.  We are going to carry a quickfirer at the stern, wireless installation, a crew of men from the naval reserves,—­everything necessary to defend ourselves.  We shall make our voyages without hunting for the enemy, carrying freight as before; but if the enemy comes out to attack us, it will find some one who will answer.”

He was ready to die, if that was to be his fate, but attacking whoever attacked him.

“And may I not go, too?” persisted the pilot.

“No; back of you there is a family that needs you.  You do not belong to a nation at war, nor have you anything to avenge....  I am the only one of the former crew that remains on board.  All the rest of you are to go.  The captain has a reason for exposing his life, and he does not wish to assume the responsibility of dragging all of you into his last adventure.”

Toni understood that it would be useless to insist.  His eyes became moist....  Was it possible that within a few hours they would be bidding each other a last good-by?...  Should he never again see Ulysses and the ship on which he had spent the greater part of his past?...

In order to maintain his serenity, the captain tried to bring this interview promptly to an end.

“The first thing to-morrow morning,” he said, “you will call the crew together.  Adjust all the accounts.  Each one must receive as an extra bonus a year’s pay.  I wish them to have pleasant memories of Captain Ferragut.”

The mate attempted to oppose this generosity by a remnant of the keen interest that the business affairs of the boat had always inspired in him.  But his superior officer would not let him continue.

“I am rotten with money, I tell you,” he repeated as though uttering a complaint.  “I have more than I need....  I can do foolish things with it if I wish to.”

Then for the first time he looked his mate square in the face.

“As for you,” he continued, “I have thought what you must do....  Here, take this!”

He gave him a sealed envelope and the pilot mechanically tried to open it.