“Pontius Pilate made similar remarks when he gave Our Lord over to death, but handwashing of that sort is of no use.  As for the rest you are right.  Redfox is the chief sinner and forces the Captain into things which he would never think of doing otherwise.—­But what are we to do?  Here we are helpless in the power of these monsters.  We might give them over to the authorities at the first port at which we touch, but the trouble with that plan comes in just here:  Gray will not listen to or believe what that little Chinaman says.  It couldn’t be done without a life and death struggle.  I must win over the Chinamen—­and if I fail, by so much as a hair-breadth, I’ll go to the gallows as a rebel.—­And yet—­I must risk my life for you as well as for the rest of us.  Quick, bring your little friend here.  I’ll tell him what to say to the men in the steerage.  They will be on our side for they have been badly treated.”

Willy did not understand all that the honest helmsman said for he was half talking to himself, but he got enough to realize that they were in great danger, and that Green scarcely knew what to do.  Why did Redbeard wish their death?  Green had told him a number of times, but the boy could not understand the question of the property, even after it was explained to him, and now there was no time to talk about it.  “Be quick, go get Peppo for me,” repeated the helmsman, instead of answering his questions.  “The crisis may come any moment.  In the meantime pray to your guardian angel, who once saved you miraculously from the power of these monsters.”

A few minutes later Peppo slipped down to the steerage and delivered Green’s message to his uncle, and he in turn held a secret counsel with the most resolute of his companions.  They talked much of the warning which the God of the Golden Fish had given them about keeping out of broils without arriving at any conclusion, though their feelings prompted them to wreak vengeance on the Captain for his rough treatment of them.  While they were talking a voice from the crow’s nest called, “Land—­ahoy!” and in a moment the ship was all life.  The boatswain sounded his pipe calling every sailor to his place and the Captain came on deck to give orders.  On the left in the South Sea a wooded hill rose from the water, and quickly became larger, as the ship flew towards it like a bird.  The Captain and Redfox stepped up to the wheel and the Captain said to Green, “We must heave to.”

“What?  Heave to in such a fine breeze as this?  What have we got for the cannibals over there?”

“We must have water,” said the Captain without looking at the helmsman.  “Redfox says that the cask has leaked and that there is not enough water to last us through to Australia.”

“I saw the cask yesterday, and then there was no leak in it.  If it is empty now there has been foul play.”

“Hello!  What ails the man?” cried Redfox.  “Who has been doing the foul play?”