“And now for the señor,” said Captain Studwick, as he returned with his well-armed party, after setting Lauré’s followers ashore.
“We must not set him ashore with those scoundrels,” said Dutch, firmly, “or he will contrive some plot to get back with them and retake the ship.”
Hester shuddered as she heard his words.
“What would you do, then?” exclaimed Mr Parkley.
“Keep him on board until we find some place to set him ashore, a couple or three hundred miles away—anywhere away from here.”
There was so much reason in Dutch’s words that it was decided to follow his advice, repugnant as it was to have the villain with them in the ship.
“And now then,” said the captain, “my motto is, homeward bound; though we cannot sail with wind and tide like this.”
“But we must not stay so near the land,” exclaimed Mr Parkley, glancing uneasily towards the sands, where the followers of the Cuban had been landed.
“I’m afraid we must,” was the reply; “but surely we can contrive to keep our prize, now we have got the upper hand.”
The feeling that they could neither sail nor get rid of Lauré acted like some great depressing influence on board, but the matter was inevitable, for to have set him ashore would have been like putting fire to gunpowder, which was safe enough left alone, so careful arrangements were made, and these being in the face of them thoroughly secure, a more satisfactory influence began to pervade the vessel, and the partners congratulated one another on the escape they had had.