The master lay to, and ordered a boat to be let down.
"Mr. Governor," he said respectfully, doffing his cap, and stopping the governor, who was walking up and down in the stern; "we are all ready, and the boat waits for you."
"Already! All the better," the latter answered.
At the moment when he was going to get into the boat, the skipper arrested him.
"Have you pistols?" he asked him.
"Pistols?" he said as he turned round, "What for? is not this island deserted?"
"Entirely."
"Hence I can run no risk."
"Not the slightest; hence that is not the reason why I asked you the question."
"What is it then?"