I thank you." Hunt made no reply.
"Hunt," resumed Captain Len Guy, "don't you hear ?" The man seemed not to have heard.
"Hunt," said Martin Holt again, "come near to me.

I thank you.
I want to shake hands with you." And he held out his right hand.

Hunt stepped back a few paces, shaking his head with the air of a man who did not want so many compliments for a thing so simple, and quietly walked forward to join his shipmates, who were working vigorously under the orders of West.
Decidedly, this man was a hero in courage and self-devotion; but equally decidedly he was a being impervious to impressions, and not on that day either was the boatswain destined to know "the colour of his words!" For three whole days, the 6th, 7th, and 8th of December, the tempest raged in these waters, accompanied by snow storms which perceptibly lowered the temperature.

It is needless to say that Captain Len Guy proved himself a true seaman, that James West had an eye to everything, that the crew seconded them loyally, and that Hunt was always foremost when there was work to be done or danger to be incurred.
In truth, I do not know how to give an idea of this man! What a difference there was between him and most of the sailors recruited at the Falklands, and especially between him and Hearne, the sealing-master! They obeyed, no doubt, for such a master as James West gets himself obeyed, whether with good or ill will.

But behind backs what complaints were made, what recriminations were exchanged I All this, I feared, was of evil presage for the future.
Martin Holt had been able to resume his duties very soon, and he fulfilled them with hearty good-will.