Chapter 49

"Then it's got to wait," I said sternly, and put my foot behind the door to prevent his shutting it. "You've got the rest of your life in which to study that book; but what the duration will amount to unless you listen to me, I can't say." I intended to frighten him, and apparently I succeeded, for he opened the door and I stepped into his cabin. "What do you mean?" he said nervously. "Well, in the first place, the whole of the crew and the Captain have deserted." "Oh! I know--I know," he cried peevishly. "They'll …