“And what about you?” said the lieutenant.
“Me?” said the man wonderingly, and looking as innocent as a child.
“Yes; where am I to pick you up again?”
“Oh! I’ll show you. I’ll be hanging just inside one of the mouths of the river, and then lead yew in when yew get back with yewr ship.”
Murray softly pressed his foot against his officer’s without seeming to move, and felt the pressure returned, as if to say—All right; I’m not going to trust him—and the lieutenant then said aloud—
“But why shouldn’t you sail with us as far as our sloop?”
“Ah, why shouldn’t I, after all?” said the man. “You might show me your skipper, and we could talk to him about what we’re going to do. All right; sail away if you like to chance it.”
The lieutenant nodded, and a few minutes later the two boats were gliding about half a mile abreast of the dense mangrove-covered shore in the direction of the Seafowl, and only about fifty yards apart.
“You’ll be keeping a sharp lookout for treachery in any shape, sir?” said Murray, in a low tone.
“The fellow’s willingness to fall in with my proposal has disarmed me, Mr Murray,” said the lieutenant quietly, “but all the same I felt bound to be cautious. I have given the marines orders to be ready to fire at the slightest sign of an attempt to get away.”