We'll soon get things in shipshape."

"No, it isn't all right," said the Doctor, "it's all wrong. And
I'm not at all glad to see you. I told you in Puddleby I didn't
want you. You had no right to come."

"But Captain," said the able seaman, "you can't sail this ship
without me. You don't understand navigation. Why, look at the
compass now: you've let her swing a point and a half off her
course. It's madness for you to try to do this trip alone--if
you'll pardon my saying so, Sir. Why--why, you'll lose the
ship!"

"Look here," said the Doctor, a sudden stern look coming into his
eyes, "losing a ship is nothing to me. I've lost ships before
and it doesn't bother me in the least. When I set out to go to a
place, I get there. Do you understand? I may know nothing
whatever about sailing and navigation, but I get there just the
same. Now you may be the best seaman in the world, but on this
ship you're just a plain ordinary nuisance--very plain and very
ordinary. And I am now going to call at the nearest port and put
you ashore."

"Yes, and think yourself lucky," Polynesia put in, "that you are
not locked up for stowing away and eating all our salt beef."

"I don't know what the mischief we're going to do now," I heard
her whisper to Bumpo. "We've no money to buy any more; and that
salt beef was the most important part of the stores."