"Cast away the ship! Why, there's no land within two thousand miles.

Founder a vessel in the Pacific! Do you think my life is not as sweet to me as yours is to you ?" Wylie eyed him keenly to see the effect of these words, and, by a puzzled expression that came over his face, saw at once he had assumed a more exact knowledge than he really possessed.
Hazel replied that he had said nothing about foundering the ship; but there were many ways of destroying one.

"For instance," said he, "I know how the _Neptune_ was destroyed--and so do you; how the _Rose_ and the _Antelope_ were cast away--and so do you." At this enumeration Wylie lost his color and self-possession for a moment; he saw Hazel had been listening.

Hazel followed up his blow.
"Promise me now, by all you hold sacred, to forego this villainy; and I hold my tongue.

Attempt to defy me, or to throw dust in my eyes, and I go instantly among the crew, and denounce both you and Hudson to them." "Good Heavens!" cried Wylie, in unfeigned terror.