“I should act at once as if I were fully in command, and make a stern bargain with this American naturalist that if he comes with us it is, as he proposed, completely under your orders.”
“Exactly,” said Sir Humphrey, and the brothers walked back to where their would-be ally stood waiting patiently, and Captain Banes was giving vent to his annoyance by growling at both mates in turn, and then at the men for not being smarter over getting up the cask.
“Captain Banes,” said Sir Humphrey.
“Sir to you,” growled the captain.
“My brother and I have been discussing this business, and we come to the conclusion that we cannot under any circumstances return to port.”
“O’ course not,” said the captain, nodding approval.
“But on the other hand we cannot be guilty of so inhuman an act as to set this gentleman and his servant ashore upon a wild coast, at the risk of his life.”
“Hear, hear!” cried the American, and the captain grunted.
“But, as he has chosen to take the risk and is prepared for an inland expedition, we decide that he is quite at liberty to join ours and go with us, on the condition that he follows out my orders as to what is done.”
“Of course—of course,” cried the American. “Hear, Mr Skipper?”