There was another pause, and then a fresh repetition of the questioning, and this time Ned had been thinking how easy it would be for Hamet and his companions to stab and drop them overboard.
“Get out, you horrible young imaginer of evil. If they did that they would not be paid for their journey.”
“No, uncle, but they’d get the guns and all our things.”
“Ned, I’m beginning to think I ought to have left you at home,” said Mr Murray quietly.
“Oh, I say uncle, I couldn’t help tumbling overboard.”
“No, sir, but you can help putting all kinds of bloodthirsty ideas in my head. Now go to sleep.”
“Well, uncle, if you’ll promise not to believe you ought to have left me at home, I will not think anything like that again.”
“Very well, sir. It’s a bargain.”
There was a long silence, and then, ping—ing—ing—ing, came a sharp, piercing trumpeting.
“Here he is, Ned.”