“Captain Perry, we are assembled here for a purpose,” said DeMille, clearing his throat three times.  “First of all, as we understand it, you are the sailing master of this ship.  In other words, you are, according to maritime law, the commander of this expedition.  You alone can give orders to the sailors and you alone can clear a port.  Mr. Brewster has no authority except that vested in a common employer.  Am I correct?”

“Mr. DeMille, if Mr. Brewster instructs me to sail for the North Cape, I shall do so,” said the captain, firmly.  “This boat is his for the full term of the lease and I am engaged to sail her with my crew until the tenth of next September.”

“We understand your position, captain, and I am sure you appreciate ours.  It isn’t that we want to end a very delightful cruise, but that we regard it as sheer folly for Mr. Brewster to extend the tour at such tremendous expense.  He is—­or was—­a rich man, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that he is plunging much too heavily.  In plain words, we want to keep him from spending more of his money on this cruise.  Do you understand our position, Captain Perry?”

“Fully.  I wish with all my soul that I could help you and him.  My hands are tied by contract, however, much as I regret it at this moment.”

“How does the crew feel about this additional trip, captain?” asked DeMille.

“They shipped for five months and will receive five months’ pay.  The men have been handsomely treated and they will stick to Mr. Brewster to the end,” said the captain.

“There is no chance for a mutiny, then?” asked Smith regretfully.  The captain gave him a hard look, but said nothing.  Everybody seemed uncomfortable.

“Apparently the only way is the one suggested by Mr. Smith this morning,” said Mrs. Dan, speaking for the women.  “No one will object, I am sure, if Captain Perry and his chief officers are allowed to hear the plan.”

“It is very necessary, in fact,” said Mr. Valentine.  “We cannot proceed without them.  But they will agree with us, I am sure, that it is wise.”

An hour later the meeting broke up and the conspirators made their way to the deck.  It was a strange fact that no one went alone.  They were in groups of three and four and the mystery that hung about them was almost perceptible.  Not one was willing to face the excited, buoyant Brewster without help; they found strength and security in companionship.

Peggy was the one rebel against the conspiracy, and yet she knew that the others were justified in the step they proposed to take.  She reluctantly joined them in the end, but felt that she was the darkest traitor in the crowd.  Forgetting her own distress over the way in which Monty was squandering his fortune, she stood out the one defender of his rights until the end and then admitted tearfully to Mrs. DeMille that she had been “quite unreasonable” in doing so.