Thus the half-hour quickly sped by and, punctually at its expiration, the door opened and Valerie reappeared.
“All ready?” she exclaimed, in rapid tones.
Mortimer raised his head slowly.
“I shall not go,” he said.
“Not go! and why?”
“For the reasons I’ve explained. Don’t think, though, that I am insensible to your great kindness—that I thank you the less.”
“Keep your thanks till some other time,” exclaimed Valerie, with flushed cheeks; “now is the time to act. You won’t go, eh? We’ll see about that. When I make up my mind to something, that something generally comes off, as you shall see!”
With these words she sprang up the steps and tapped on the door. It was immediately opened.
“Jack, come here!”
Jack, grinning broadly, promptly descended into the cabin. Valerie dropped into a seat and pointed to one of the little coils of rope.