A dozen times she almost drove him to the statement that from the showing she made of Solomon Islands sailors, she was the only person fitted to command the _Martha_.

But each time he restrained himself, while her pride prevented her from making the suggestion.
"Good whale-boat sailors do not necessarily make good schooner-handlers," she replied to one of his arguments.

"Besides, the captain of a boat like the _Martha_ must have a large mind, see things in a large way; he must have capacity and enterprise." "But with your Tahitians on board--" Sheldon had begun another argument.
"There won't be any Tahitians on board," she had returned promptly.

"My men stay with me.

I never know when I may need them.