He chuckled at that, and tapped on the rail with one knuckle, in a thoughtful way. “I had thought that Joel and I would go, in the Nathan Ross, and fetch the things away,” he said.
“Of course,” she exclaimed. “That would be so easy.... I’d love to see the—pearls....”
“Easy? That was my own thought,” he agreed. Something in his tone prompted her question.
“Why—isn’t it?”
“Joel objects,” he said drily.
“He—won’t. But why? I don’t understand. Why?”
Mark laughed. “He speaks of a matter of duty, not to risk the ship.”
“Is there a risk?”
“No.” He chuckled maliciously. “As a matter of cold fact, Priss, I’m fearful that Joel is a bit—timid in such affairs.”
She flamed at him: “Afraid?”