Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/132

 to put an end to all this by resigning in your favour, or perhaps in Donagan's. That would cut short all this rivalry."

"No, Briant," said Gordon decidedly, "you would fail in your duty towards those who have elected you."

Amid these discussions the winter came to an end. With the first days of October the cold definitely disappeared, and the surface of the lake and river became free from ice. And on the evening of the 9th of the month Donagan announced the resolve of himself and Webb, Cross, and Wilcox to leave French Den.

"You wish to abandon us?" said Gordon.

"To abandon you? No, Gordon!" said Donagan. "Only Cross, Wilcox, Webb, and I have agreed to move to another part of the island."

"And for what reason?" asked Baxter.

"Simply because we want to live as we please, and I tell you frankly because it does not suit us to take orders from Briant."

"What have you to complain of about me?" said Briant.

"Nothing— except your being at our head," said Donagan." We had a Yankee as chief of the colony — now it is a French fellow who is in command! Next time I suppose we shall have a nigger fellow, Moko for instance — "

"Do you mean that?" asked Gordon.

"I do," said Donagan, "and neither I nor my friends care to serve under any but one of our own race."

"Very well," said Briant, "Wilcox, Webb, Cross, and you, Donagan, are quite at liberty to go, and take away your share of the things."

"We never supposed otherwise, Briant; and tomorrow we will clear out of French Den." "And may you never have cause to repent of your determination," said Gordon, who saw that reasoning would be in vain.

Donagan's plan was as follows. When Briant had