“To be sure,” said Blunt coolly. “Only you’ll have to be pretty sharp about it.”
He turned his back upon the lad and took a step towards the excited group of men, who were talking hurriedly in whispers.
“Now, my lads,” he said, “we can’t give up this place to a mob of savages without making a bold defence for the sake of our employers. Some of you will, I hope, stick to me, but others will like to get out of the scrimmage. So those of you who have no stomach for a fight had better join Mr Lynn here, who is going off to Hai-Hai to fetch help.”
“No, I am not,” said Stan quietly.
“What! Why, you said you were.”
“I said I should like to,” said Stan, “but I said so without thinking of the distance. I see now that it would be impossible to get help in time.”
“Quite, sir,” said the manager, staring at the lad. “Well, at all events you are going off in the boat with Wing.”
“Indeed I am not,” said Stan, speaking slowly and thoughtfully. “It seems to me that we must make as brave a defence as we can. We may be able to beat off the enemy.”
“Then you mean to stay?” cried the manager, his eyes lighting up.
“Of course.”