But from this date he resumed his position as master of the ship, and used it with the energy required by the circumstances; in a word, he again became sole master on board, after God.
At his command the crew were drawn up around him on a flat spot a little to the left of the _Halbrane_.

In that place the following were assembled:--on the seniors' side: Martin Holt and Hardy, Rogers, Francis, Gratian, Bury, Stern, the cook (Endicott), and I may add Dirk Peters; on the side of the new-comers, Hearne and the thirteen other Falkland sailors.

The latter composed a distinct group; the sealing-master was their spokesman and exercised a baneful influence over them.
Captain Len Guy cast a stern glance upon the men and said in a sharp tone: "Sailors of the _Halbrane_, I must first speak to you of our lost companions.

Five of us have just perished in this catastrophe." "We are waiting to perish in our turn, in these seas, where we have been dragged in spite of--" "Be silent, Hearne," cried West, pale with anger, "or if not--" "Hearne has said what he had to say," Captain Len Guy continued, coldly.

"Now it is said, and I advise him not to interrupt me a second time!" The sealing-master might possibly have ventured on an answer, for he felt that he was backed by the majority of the crew; but Martin Holt held him back, and he was silent.
Captain Len Guy then took off his hat and pronounced the following words with an emotion that affected us to the bottom of our hearts:-- "We must pray for those who have died in this dangerous voyage, which was undertaken in the name of humanity.