It was at this point that I went out to meet him—and tell him exactly what was in my mind.
"Come on, George!" he shouted. "Off with your clothes!"
The temptation was terrible; but I had to remember my dignity.
"I'm ashamed of you!" I said, gazing at his cool, sea-drenched body and laughing face.
"What's the matter now?"
"I naturally concluded that you were all busy at work—the same as me. How the blazes do you expect us to get this job done if you behave in this demoralizing way?"
"Ah! This is a brain-wave. Dr. Croft and I thought it out this morning and acted on it there and then."
"So I can gather, quite easily!"
Gran'pa turned off the engine and stepped ashore.
"Those damned natives are getting sick of work," he said. "This morning they were worse than ever. We offered 'em more cheap and nasty jewelry. But they've lost interest in it. They're overloaded with the stuff. So we cudgelled our brains, and this is the result. At heart they're little children. What they want is enjoyment, not gimcrack knickknacks. This little exhibition of aquatic merriment has turned their heads. Look at them! . . . They'd give anything for a joy-ride on this. See the idea?"