“Jus’ as you damned please,” growled Stubbs.
He saw no use in trying to pacify this devil. Even if he had seen a hope, it would have gone too much against him to attempt it. He felt the same contempt for him that he would of a mutinous sailor; he was just bad,––to be beaten by force and nothing else.
The yellow teeth showed between the thin lips.
“The bearded men are like kings until––they lie prostrate like slaves.”
Stubbs did not answer. His thoughts flew back to Wilson. He pictured his return to find his partner gone. Would he be able to climb out of that ill-fated hole without aid? It was possible, but if he succeeded, he might fall into worse hands. At any cost he must turn suspicion aside from that particular spot. Apparently it had as yet no especial significance, if its existence were known at all, to the natives.
“My partner,” said Stubbs, deliberately, “has gone to find the girl.”
“And you waited for him––up there in the sun?”
“Maybe.”
“He had better have remained with you.”