“They would have to be constrained to stay there, and as I take it that the native fighting force of the island on which the ship was cast was in the canoes, there would not be any necessity for guarding her heavily. Besides, two or three with firearms could stop any attack that might be made.�
“But we have no firearms,� said my lady.
“We have weapons,� I returned. I had picked up the musket from a shelf of rock where I had laid it, and she still clung to the pistol with which she had saved my life by her adroitness. “We have firearms,� I continued, “but they are useless to us without powder and shot�—all that we had, had either been washed away or wetted so that it was of no use—“but I have my cutlass and I consider myself a match for all the murdering pirates that may be left on that ship.�
“I believe that, too,� she said, looking at me admiringly, “when I think of your determination, your feats of strength, your—�
“They were nothing. They did not measure up to the inspiration I had,� said I.
But she shook her head at this and I continued, not daring to notice her overmuch.
“I take it that those islands are four or five leagues away,� I looked over the side, “and this boat is making not more than three-quarters of a league an hour. That is all we can do with such a poor makeshift for a sail.� I looked up into the sky, then at my watch. It was high noon. I had not dreamed that we had been so long in our adventures that day. “It will be dusk before we reach the nearest island. It may be that haply we shall find The Rose of Devon there.�
“And if we do, what will be your plans?�
“I propose to douse the sail when we get near enough to see her, which will be long before she can see us, then wait until nightfall, take to the oars, row alongside, fasten the boat aft, and clamber aboard. If there are only two or three on her there will probably be but one on watch. I can throttle him without arousing the attention of the others. Perhaps I can confine the others below. Then we can cut the cable, hoist a rag of sail somehow, and be away before morning.�
“But if there are savages aboard?�