The man tried to look calm and self-possessed, when 237 he moved forward and extended his hand, but there were tears in his eyes, and he could only murmur:
“God bless you, my boy! You have chosen the better part.”
They were silent for a minute or so, each one’s thoughts active, when Fred said:
“If you please, I would rather that Inez should know nothing of this.”
“She never shall know a word of it from me.”
“One of these days, perhaps, I will tell her what a villain she was the means of saving from destruction.”
Fred appreciated the skill, seamanship and shrewdness of Storms, and consulted fully with him, saying that, as he himself was captain, he would appoint the other to his old position––that of mate.
The whole scheme had already been made clear by the youth. The large proa was in sight, by appointment, having been cruising back and forth for several days, on the lookout for the smaller boat with the party who it was expected would be robbed and killed for the valuable pearls in their possession. The signal of the fluttering handkerchief from the triangular sail meant that the party were on board, and the original program was to be carried out. That is, the pursuing boat was to hold off until after dark. She was to keep on a converging course, so as not to lose sight of the small proa, and gradually approaching, overhaul and 238 attack her at the time when the chances of success were at the best.
The plan decided upon by Captain Sanders was simply to keep away from the larger craft, and to do his utmost to prevent being overhauled; and he showed his earnestness in this respect by taking the steering oar and bearing away from the other, so that, instead of being converging, they became parallel.
The two natives displayed some surprise when they observed this action, but they said nothing, and most likely felt no suspicion as yet of their captain, whose desperation and heartlessness on more than one previous occasion had won the confidence of the islanders.