Mark bade him be quiet. "That's not true, Joel," he said. "You know, I
wanted you in this, from the first. Your coming in will--prevent
complications. With you in, the whole matter is very simple, and safe....
But without you, we will be forced to take measures that may
be--reprehensible."
Joel did not speak; and Priss, trembling against the door, thought
bitterly: "He's afraid.... He said, himself, that he is afraid...."
Dick Morrell begged eagerly: "Please, Captain Shore. There's a fortune
for all of us. Mr. Worthen would tell you to do it...."
Joel said then: "I told Mark Shore in the beginning that I would not risk
my ship. The enterprise is not lawful. The pearls were stolen in the
beginning; murder hung around them. Bad luck would follow them--and there
are blacks on the island to prevent our finding them, in any case."
"There's no harm in going to see," Morrell urged.
"'Tis far out of our proper way. Wasted time. And--the men should be
thinking of oil, not of pearls."
Mark laughed. "That may be," he agreed. "But the men's thoughts are
already on the pearls. They've no mind for whaling, Joel. They've no mind
for it."
"I'm doubtful that what you say is true."