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But the wind was light； the Pyrenees' bottom was foul； and she could
not beat up against the strong westerly current。 At the end of two hours she
had lost three miles。 The sailors worked eagerly； as if by main strength
they could compel the PYRENEES against the adverse elements。 But
steadily； port tack and starboard tack； she sagged off to the westward。 The
captain paced restlessly up and down； pausing occasionally to survey the
vagrant smoke wisps and to trace them back to the portions of the deck
from which they sprang。 The carpenter was engaged constantly in
attempting to locate such places； and； when he succeeded； in calking them
tighter and tighter。
〃Well； what do you think？〃 the captain finally asked McCoy； who was
watching the carpenter with all a child's interest and curiosity in his eyes。
McCoy looked shoreward； where the land was disappearing in the
thickening haze。
〃I think it would be better to square away for Mangareva。 With that
breeze that is coming； you'll be there tomorrow evening。〃
〃But what if the fire breaks out？ It is liable to do it any moment。〃
〃Have your boats ready in the falls。 The same breeze will carry your
boats to Mangareva if the ship burns out from under。〃
Captain Davenport debated for a moment； and then McCoy heard the
question he had not wanted to hear； but which he knew was surely coming。
〃I have no chart of Mangareva。 On the general chart it is only a fly
speck。 I would not know where to look for the entrance into the lagoon。
Will you come along and pilot her in for me？〃
McCoy's serenity was unbroken。
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〃Yes； Captain；〃 he said； with the same quiet unconcern with which he
would have accepted an invitation to dinner； 〃I'll go with you to
Mangareva。〃
Again the crew was called aft； and the captain spoke to them from the
break of the poop。
〃We've tried to work her up； but you see how we've lost ground。
She's setting off in a two…knot current。 This gentleman is the Honorable
McCoy； Chief Magistrate and Governor of Pitcairn Island。 He will come
along with us to Mangareva。 So you see the situation is not so dangerous。
He would not make such an offer if he thought he was going to lose his
life。 Besides； whatever risk there is； if he of his own free will come on
board and take it； we can do no less。 What do you say for Mangareva？〃
This time there was no uproar。 'mcCoy's presence； the surety and calm
that seemed to radiate from him； had had its effect。 They conferred with
one another in low voices。 There was little urging。 They were virtually
unanimous； and they shoved the Cockney out as their spokesman。 That
worthy was overwhelmed with consciousness of the heroism of himself
and his mates； and with flashing eyes he cried：
〃By Gawd！ If 'e will； we will！〃
The crew mumbled its assent and started forward。
〃One moment； Captain；〃 McCoy said； as the other was turning to give
orders to the mate。 〃I must go ashore first。〃
Mr。 Konig was thunderstruck； staring at McCoy as if he were a
madman。
〃Go ashore！〃 the captain cried。 〃What for？ It will take you three hours
to get there in your canoe。〃
McCoy measured the distance of the land away； and nodded。
〃Yes； it is six now。 I won't get ashore till nine。 The people cannot be
assembled earlier than ten。 As the breeze freshens up tonight； you can
begin to work up against it； and pick me up at daylight tomorrow
morning。〃
〃In the name of reason and common sense；〃 the captain burst forth；
〃what do you want to assemble the people for？ Don't you realize that my
ship is burning beneath me？〃
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McCoy was as placid as a summer sea； and the other's anger produced
not the slightest ripple upon it。
〃Yes； Captain；〃 he cooed in his dove…like voice。 〃I do realize that your
ship is burning。 That is why I am going with you to Mangareva。 But I
must get permission to go with you。 It is our custom。 It is an important
matter when the governor leaves the island。 The people's interests are at
stake； and so they have the right to vote their permission or refusal。 But
they will give it； I know that。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Then if you know they will give it； why bother with getting it？
Think of the delaya whole night。〃
〃It is our custom；〃 was the imperturbable reply。 〃Also； I am the
governor； and I must make arrangements for the conduct of the island
during my absence。〃
〃But it is only a twenty…four hour run to Mangareva；〃 the captain
objected。 〃Suppose it took you six times that long to return to windward；
that would bring you back by the end of a week。〃
McCoy smiled his large； benevolent smile。
〃Very few vessels come to Pitcairn； and when they do； they are usually
from San Francisco or from around the Horn。 I shall be fortunate if I get
back in six months。 I may be away a year； and I may have to go to San
Francisco in order to find a vessel that will bring me back。 'my father once
left Pitcairn to be gone three months； and two years passed before he could
get back。 Then； too； you are short of food。 If you have to take to the
boats； and the weather comes up bad； you may be days in reaching land。 I
can bring off two canoe loads of food in the morning。 Dried bananas will
be best。 As the breeze freshens； you beat up against it。 The nearer you are；
the bigger loads I can bring off。 Goodby。〃
He held out his hand。 The captain shook it； and was reluctant to let go。
He seemed to cling to it as a drowning sailor clings to a life buoy。
〃How do I know you will come back in the morning？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； that's it！〃 cried the mate。 〃How do we know but what he's
skinning out to save his own hide？〃
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McCoy did not speak。 He looked at them sweetly and benignantly； and
it seemed to them that they received a message from his tremendous
certitude of soul。
The captain released his hand； and； with a last sweeping glance that
embraced the crew in its benediction； McCoy went over the rail and
descended into his canoe。
The wind freshened； and the Pyrenees； despite the foulness of her
bottom； won half a dozen miles away from the westerly current。 At
daylight； with Pitcairn three miles to windward； Captain Davenport made
out two canoes coming off to him。 Again McCoy clambered up the side
and dropped over the rail to the hot deck。 He was followed by many
packages of dried bananas； each package wrapped in dry leaves。
〃Now； Captain；〃 he said； 〃swing the yards and drive for dear life。 You
see； I am no navigator；〃 he explained a few minutes later； as he stood by
the captain aft； the latter with gaze wandering from aloft to overside as he
estimated the Pyrenees' speed。 〃You must fetch her to Mangareva。 When
you have picked up the land； then I will pilot her in。 What do you think
she is making？〃
〃Eleven；〃 Captain Davenport answered； with a final glance at the
water rushing past。
〃Eleven。 Let me see； if she keeps up that gait； we'll sight Mangareva
between eight and nine o'clock tomorrow morning。 I'll have her on the
beach by ten or by eleven at latest。 And then your troubles will be all
over。〃
It almost seemed to the captain that the blissful moment had already
arrived； such was the persuasive convincingness of McCoy。
Captain Davenport had been under the fearful strain of navigating his
burning ship for over two weeks； and he was beginning to feel that he had
had enough。
A heavier flaw of wind struck the back of his neck and whistled by his
ears。 He measured the weight of it； and looked quickly overside。
〃The wind is making all the time；〃 he announced。 〃The old