In the first place, at Carlo's death you became our captain by right, so long as we remain together; and in the second place you have more experience than all of us put together, and a very much better head than most of us, myself included.
"Therefore, comrades, I vote that Messer Francisco Hammond be still regarded as our captain, and obeyed as such." There was a general chorus of assent, for the energy which Francis had displayed throughout the trying winter, and the manner in which he had led the crew during the desperate fighting, had won for him the regard and the respect of them all.
"Very well, then," Francis said.

"If you wish it so I will remain your leader, but we will nevertheless hold our council of war.

The question which I shall first present to your consideration is, which is the best way to set about retaking the Pluto ?" There was a burst of laughter among the young men.

The matter of fact way in which Francis proposed, what seemed to them an impossibility, amused them immensely.
"I am quite in earnest," Francis went on, when the laughter had subsided.

"If it is possibly to be done, I mean to retake the Pluto, and I have very little doubt that it is possible, if we set about it in the right way.