The poor dear Major claims our first thoughts, naturally. Yes, yes;
there must be a hundred and one details to be discussed hereafter--at
a fitting time; and it may be many weeks before we find ourselves
actually launched--if I may use the expression--upon the bosom of the
deep."
"_We?_" gasped Mr. Rogers, and again gazed around; but we others had
no attention to spare for him. "_We?_ Who are 'we'?"
"Why, all of us, sir, if I might dare to propose it; or at least as
many as possible of us whom the hand of Providence has so
mysteriously brought together. I will confess that while you were
talking just now, discussing this secret which properly speaking
belongs to Harry alone, I doubted the prudence of it--"
"And, by Jingo, you were right!" put in Miss Belcher.
"With your leave, ma'am," Plinny went on, "I have come to think
otherwise. To begin with, but for Captain Branscome the map would
never have found its way to the Major's room, where Harry discovered
it; but might--nay, probably would--have been stolen by the wicked
man who committed this crime to get possession of it. Again, but for
Mr. Goodfellow this written narrative would undoubtedly have been
lost to us, and the map, if not meaningless, might have seemed a clue
not worth the risk of following.
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