“How so?”
“Why, them two would put the laugh on me, and it’d be ‘what price skelentons’ wherever I went, see? I’d be the mug then. They’re the mugs now, seem’ they’ve paid a thousand and forty for what they’ve got.”
“I see. But considering that they’ll be after you if you move, and that we’re not strong enough to fight them, what’s to be done?”
“Well,” said Satan, “when they come aboard it’ll be either to get the dollars back or fight. You’ve noticed I asked them to come, seein’ they’d have come whether I asked them or not. Well, if I can foozle them into hanging on for their answer till tomorrow, I’ll give them the slip tonight. Moon’s not up till late.”
“But they’ll hear you getting the anchor up and handling the sails!”
“Not with an ear trumpet,” said Satan, “if I can only foozle them into waitin’ till tomorrow. Now then, Jude, lend a hand with the dinghy.”
CHAPTER XXVII
CROCKERY WARE
An hour before sunset, Jude, on the lookout, gave the alarm. “Sellers’s getting ready to come off,” she cried.