For it seemed to all that they ought to have been overtaken some time before, whereas they had for some time seen no sign of them, nor heard so much as a whisper.
All at once, when they were still quite a mile from the brig, and while Oliver was being tortured by opportunities for acquiring magnificent specimens of butterfly and bird of which he could not avail himself, Drew stopped short, and let the others come close up to where he was crouching beneath the huge leaves of a dwarf palm.
“I dare not go any further,” he whispered, “for I feel certain that we are walking right into a trap.”
“Why?” asked Oliver. “You say you have neither seen nor heard anything of them.”
“I can’t tell you, but somehow I feel as if they are lying in ambush, waiting for us, and I can’t lead you on to your death.”
These words acted like a chill to all, and for the full space of a minute there was utter silence. Then Oliver spoke.
“I feel so weak and helpless, that I do not like to make proposals,” he said, “but how would it be to try and play boldly?”
“How?” asked Panton.
“By taking the initiative and attacking.”
“Madness,” said Drew.