"What will Flint say to your fetching in strangers to your hiding-place?" I asked.
A furrow deepened betwixt my great-uncle's lambent eyes.
"He'll not like it, Robert," he admitted. "I have O'Donnell's word to betray none of our secrets, and indeed 'tis to his own interest to keep hidden his part in this affair; but Flint may well make trouble. 'Tis a determined dog, and a greedy. Look you, boy, will you stand by me in the affair? For the girl's sake, if for no other reason?"
"Why not leave her aboard the treasure-ship?"
He regarded me askance.
"It may be we must sink——"
I started up.
"Now, that I'll ha' naught to do with! I ha' told you I'd fight if you butchered the defenseless."
He waved me back.
"Peace, peace! We can not carry off all the Spaniards in any case, and——"