“Good morning, Mistress Wilberforce,� he cried.
I turned in a hurry and found that she had stepped out by my side, completely disobeying my positive direction. The two of us presented a fair mark for any weapon; one might escape, but hardly two if Pimball’s men opened fire.
“Get back!� I cried harshly in mingled amazement and dismay.
“I stay where you are,� she answered firmly. “See, I, too, am armed,� her little hand lifted her own pistol.
“I can talk with the two of you jest as well as with one, or even better,� interposed Pimball smoothly, “an’ the lady won’t need her pistol.�
“Talk on and be brief,� I returned, seeing there was no use in arguing with my little mistress who always did have her own way in the end.
“She had stepped out by my side.�
Yet I did take the precaution to interpose my bulk between the man on the ground and my lady who strove to move around me, but I stubbornly held my position and compelled her to keep in the background where she was in less danger.
“You’ve found the treasure,� he began, “there ain’t no use denyin’ it; we’ve l’arnt from our savage friends that the stuff is there. In years gone by they sacrificed here an’ on the cone yonder, but for generations the island has been taboo. The comin’ of the white man has broke the ban an’ we’re here to take the treasure away with us.�