"Very well," said Locke, grimly. "I'll look to you, Captain Jarrow, to carry out the terms of our agreement."
"What ye drivin' at?" demanded Jarrow.
"This: Your pay by the day for schooner and crew is for a definite purpose—to visit this island for exploration purposes, and to have in our employ a certain number of men. If we have to go back to Manila without accomplishing the business, or lie around waiting on the crew, it'll be out of your pocket. It's up to you, captain."
"You say I don't git no money at all if we have to go back?" Jarrow's colour heightened, and his eyes flashed angrily, but he held a certain restraint over his voice.
"What I say and what I mean."
"There ain't no law that compels a master to guarantee against mutiny," said Jarrow, and began to chew a biscuit reflectively.
"Mutiny!"
"My mates have jumped ship with the crew. That's mutiny."
"You expect them to make trouble for us?"
"I look for anything with that gang," said Jarrow. "Peth he's a bad one when he gits started. So are all them chaps with him. But as I see it, they'll be back here in no time. If they don't find gold we'll have 'em back on our hands. So there ain't no great hurt done."