“Maybe they will. The more credit to ’em.”
“But H’I say, Captain, sir, ’ave you told ’im?”
“Told him what?”
“About them cannibals an’ other unpleasant creatures that may be on the h’islands where we’re goin’?”
“No, I haven’t told him, but I’m going to. It’s only fair that he should know about ’em. I think he’s got grit enough to take it.”
And so, after the vessel was well under way, and the captain had leisure, he sent for Tom, who was in the stateroom that had been assigned to him, next to the captain’s own quarters.
“Tom, my boy!” exclaimed Mr. Mosher, after a few generalities, “it’s only fair to tell you that we may have a hard task ahead of us.”
“How so, captain?”
“Well, some of the islands around Tongatabu are inhabited by natives that are not always friendly.”
“You mean——” and our hero paused apprehensively.