“I do not trust them,” replied Yussuf calmly. “If we are the stronger they will be our slaves. If they feel that they are, our lives would not be safe if they had the chance to rob us. They believe your excellencies to be rich and to have much gold.”
“Look here, Yussuf,” said Mr Burne uneasily, “our friend ashore gave you a capital character.”
“I have eaten salt with your excellencies, and my life is yours,” replied Yussuf.
“Then what would you do now?”
“Be perfectly calm, effendi, and treat these men if you did not know fear.”
“And we have no arms,” said Mr Burne uneasily.
“Can your excellency fight?” said Yussuf quietly.
“A law case—yes, with any man, but any other case of fighting—good gracious me, no. I have not fought since I had a black eye at school.”
“But you can, effendi?” continued Yussuf, looking with admiration at the professor’s broad chest and long muscular arms.
“I daresay I can, if I am driven to it,” replied the professor gravely; and he involuntarily clenched a large, hard, bony hand.