“Any time you like, Captain Perks.”
“’Badiah P. Perks, mister. All right. I won’t be long.”
“But mind this,” I said, “you are doing it for your own amusement, for I shall advise my uncle not to go by your vessel.”
“Riled, mister? Jest a little bit, eh? All right. You’ll cool down by the time I’ve got the custom-house chap here, and then we can settle terms.”
He went off laughing, and for the moment I felt as if we were in his power.
“All my labour will have been thrown away, Tom,” I cried, “and we shall be called upon for explanations that I cannot give.”
I called my uncle into the consultation, and we agreed that the best line to take was the defiant one.
“We are under no engagement to this fellow, Harry,” said my uncle; “and we need not enter into one, as he would fleece you—perhaps rob you. For, once at sea on the vessel of such a man, he can play tyrant and do as he pleases.”
“You are right, uncle; we will not go. But if he returns with one of the Spanish officials, what then?”
“Set him at defiance; and if you are driven to extremities, appeal to the British vice-consul for aid.”