I could overhear the men debate the character of Captain Trent, and set forth competing theories of where the opium was stowed; and as they seemed to have been eavesdropping on ourselves, I thought little shame to prick up my ears when I had the return chance of spying upon them, in this way.

I could diagnose their temper and judge how far they were informed upon the mystery of the Flying Scud.

It was after having thus overheard some almost mutinous speeches that a fortunate idea crossed my mind.

At night, I matured it in my bed, and the first thing the next morning, broached it to the captain.
"Suppose I spirit up the hands a bit," I asked, "by the offer of a reward ?" "If you think you're getting your month's wages out of them the way it is, I don't," was his reply.

"However, they are all the men you've got, and you're the supercargo." This, from a person of the captain's character, might be regarded as complete adhesion; and the crew were accordingly called aft.