Jackwell was willing to go with the ladies, as he thought it might prove a diversion.  There was no chance for a breeze, and the ships were within half a mile of each other, with a smooth sea between.  He insisted, however, that I go along to command the boat.

Chips and I had from the first decided to try and get a peep at the captain’s trunk, and this might prove our chance.  Gunning’s tale of its great weight gave rise to many high thoughts; and if it were gold, much might be hoped for if we landed our man when we made port.

A few words with the carpenter was enough, and then I got the men at work hoisting out the boat.  I found time to try and persuade Trunnell to take my place in the small craft, but he was firm.  It would never do, he said, to leave the ship without a high officer aboard.  “There’s no telling, Rolling, just what might happen in this world while a feller is on the deep sea.  No, sir; go ahead and enjoy yourself.  There’s a-goin’ to be some line jokes, I reckon, aboard that brig.  If the skipper ain’t been acrost before, he’ll be liable to catch the fun as well as the rest, but he don’t know nothin’ about sech things.”

I was a little suspicious at Trunnell’s determination to stay aboard, especially when I found out he knew the captain of the whaler very well.  However, I had the small boat hoisted out and made ready for the passengers.  This time there was a compass and water breaker aboard, and a foghorn in the stern sheets in case of need.

Mrs. Sackett was helped into the small craft, and her daughter followed, both women looking brighter than at any time during the cruise.  Mrs. Sackett was not a bad-looking woman at any time, being of about the medium height, with a smooth complexion, and her figure finely proportioned.  Her daughter seated herself beside her in the stern, and Jackwell climbed over the rail.

He was dressed in a very fine suit of clothes, his shirt-front white, and his waxed mustache curled fiercely.  His glinting eyes had a somewhat humorous expression, I thought, and he appeared very well pleased with himself.

Trunnell came to the rail and leaned over.  “Good luck to ye,” he cried.  “We’ll expect ye back to dinner.”

“Keep an eye on my room, and don’t let the steward disturb the charts on my trunk until I come back.  The last sight is worked out on the one lying on the table,” replied Jackwell.

Then the oars fell across, and we shot out over the smooth ocean to the brig that rolled lazily half a mile distant.

The skipper appeared in a most humorous mood, which increased as did the distance between the ships.

Me talked to Mrs. Sackett incessantly and actually had that lady laughing happily at his remarks.  Miss Sackett did not rise to his humor, however, and her mother noticed it.

“Jennie, dear, why don’t you laugh?  Captain Thompson is so funny,” she said.

“I will when he gets off a good joke, mother.”