“I mean what will you do about those men who are ashore?”
“Oh, they’re settling that themselves, sir,” said the captain, with a chuckle of satisfaction. “They’ve broke away like so many naughty boys who think they can manage for themselves, and as soon as they start they’ve got frightened and are running home for safety.”
“But you’ll take them on board, won’t you?” said Brace.
“Certainly I shall, and make ’em fight too, sir,” said the captain.
“Yes,” said the American, “and they’ll have to do their level best. Shall I cover them, skipper, and let the niggers have a sprinkling of buckshot to show them we are ready?”
“Yes,” said the captain; “and you two gentlemen had better help. That’s the first thing—to get them aboard safe.”
Pieces were cocked, and their holders sat in the boats watching the flight and pursuit, Brace’s heart beating violently. He glanced up and down at the novel sight of canoes where all heretofore had been so deserted, and saw at once that there was nothing to fear in their direction for the next half-hour, while in another minute or two he could plainly see that a serious engagement would have commenced with the natives on shore, and the sensation this caused was both novel and strange to him.
“The idiots!” he said, in a low voice; “why couldn’t they keep to their duties instead of breaking away like this?”
“Because they’re just ordinary men,” said Briscoe, who was by his side. “They’re going to pay pretty dear for their game, though.”
“Don’t you think that they will be able to get here safely?”