"Then do you know what I think?" the gold-seeker fairly shot
forth.
"Not exactly," Tom replied.
"I think that you don't understand your business, Swift!" was
the instant retort. "You pretend to be a navigator, or have men
who are, and yet when I give you simple and explicit directions
for finding a sunken wreck you can't do it, and you cruise all
around looking for it like a dog that has lost the scent! You
don't know your business, in my estimation!"
"Well, you are entitled to your opinion, of course," agreed
Tom, and both Mr. Damon and Ned were surprised to see him so
calm. "I admit we haven't found the wreck, and may not, for some
time."
"Then why don't you admit you're incompetent?" cried Mr.
Hardley.
"I don't see why I should," said Tom, still keeping calm. "But
since you feel that way about it, I think the best thing for us
to do is to separate."
"What do you mean?" stormed the other.
"I mean that I will set you ashore at the nearest place, and
that all arrangements between us are at an end."
"All right then! Do it! Do it!" cried Mr.
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