“Hold hard a minute,” said the captain. “Just understand this, Dellow: if they leave you alone you leave them alone. If they don’t they must take the consequences.”
“I understand,” said the mate coolly. “How’s Sir Humphrey going on, sir? Is there any danger?” This was to Brace.
“The captain and Mr Briscoe think there is nothing to be alarmed about,” was the reply. “I hope they are right.”
“So does everybody, sir,” said the mate warmly. “He seems to be sleeping easy like.”
Brace nodded.
“Well, he wouldn’t be doing so if poison had got hold of him.”
“Right, Dellow,” said the captain, nodding his head with satisfaction. “Look here, squire, you try and make your mind a bit easy.”
“I am going to,” replied Brace.
“Well, then, let Sir Humphrey have a good sleep while you go on deck with Dellow here, and take your rifle with you too. You’re a good shot, and ought to be able to bring some of those foreign archers to their senses.”
“I came to collect natural-history specimens,” said Brace warmly. “I don’t want to slaughter ignorant savages.”