“Which is likely to be bad for you, Captain, unless Bambos is anxious after all to go to war, as he pretended the other day.”
“I think,” said Martella, “he means to get more men and attack the boat.”
“But where will he get the men from? He is a long way from Atlamalco.”
“Yet not very far from Castillo Descanso, where he has quite a force as you know.”
“That will take many hours and we shall not stay here forever.”
“There is no saying how long it will be.”
“I must have a few words with the Captain.”
Major Starland immediately left the lower deck and climbed to the pilot house, where the executive of the tugboat, having nothing pressing on his hands, had sat down on the stool placed there for his convenience and was smoking another cigarette. Looking around, as he heard the footsteps, he touched his forefinger to his hat and said:
“Buenas noches, Señor! We are still fast.”
“That cannot be disputed.”