Murray regarded the four quarters of the sky for several moments.
"With your prognostications I find no quarrel, Martin," he said finally; "but I believe we have ample time to head the Walrus. Flint dares not run south because he knows the hornet's nest we have stirred up in those seas. My purpose is to box him in and force him to beach. If this wind continues we should bring him to book on the north coast of the island, and so soon as the Walrus has taken ground we will wear and beat in for the North Inlet. Doth that satisfy you?"
The mate hesitated.
"You be cap'n, sir. But if 'twas my say we'd head back in to the Anchorage, Walrus or no Walrus."
My great-uncle stiffened.
"'Tis impossible," he replied haughtily. "However, we will bear up for the Walrus, and you may bid Coupeau to see what harm he can contrive against her with his chase-guns."
Martin saluted and went for'ard. My great-uncle led us to the poop.
"Your old sailor is eke much of an old woman into the bargain," he remarked perfunctorily, climbing the sta'b'd ladder ahead of me. "Let him but sniff the approach of a tempest, and he is all for the nearest haven—aye, the hardiest buccaneer no less than the law-abiding merchantman."
"O'Donnell was right, it seems, when he advised you to finish the task you had begun in the inlet," I snapped, none too pleased, myself, with the outlook.
"In that case, my dear nephew, a half of us must have perished," retorted my relative. "You have had some experience of these wolves of ours when their lusts are roused. No, no; I am no milk-and-water fighter, but I prefer to batter my enemy safely at long range rather than give him an equal opportunity to tear my throat."