“Certainly I have, my boy,” he answered; “and it is to them that my choice of that part of the ocean is chiefly due. Those islands, you see, are ‘almost entirely unknown’; which means that if we can find one among them of a suitable character for our new settlement, we are not likely to be disturbed by the intrusion of curious and inquisitive visitors. Therefore, kindly take measures to navigate the ship to the spot that I have indicated.”
It was on the tip of my tongue flatly to refuse to have anything whatever to do with him or his scheme, and to defy him to do his worst, when the germ of an idea came floating into my mind, and I said instead:
“Do you leave the choice of route to me? Because, if so, I shall certainly go south-about past Australia, as being much the safer route.”
“Safer, possibly, but not nearly so direct,” replied Wilde. “Therefore, since we are all anxious to begin our new life as early as possible, let us take the shorter and more direct route, past the north-west of Australia, and through the Banda Sea and Molucca Passage.”
“That route positively bristles with dangers, as you might see if you understood a chart,” I exclaimed, in tones of exasperation.
“I do not doubt your word for a moment, my dear boy,” answered Wilde soothingly. “But we shall bear in mind the warning of the chart; we shall exercise ‘the most extreme vigilance’ in the midst of those dangers; and I have not the slightest doubt that everything will be all right. And now, to change the subject, have you made a choice between the two alternatives that I submitted to you yesterday?”
“You mean the alternative of joining you or of being drowned?” I asked with vindictive emphasis.
“Precisely,” he answered with a smile of the utmost suavity. “And, understand me, youngster,” he continued, with a sudden change to sternness in his manner, that disconcerted me a great deal more than I should have cared for him to know, “if you decide to join us you must do so wholeheartedly, and with no mental reservations. Those who are not with us must inevitably be against us; and the issues at stake with us are of far too grave a character to allow of our running any risk from secret enemies. No mercy will be shown to traitors, I assure you; so do not permit your mind to dwell upon any plan in which submission that is to be only apparent has a place.”
“You do not leave me very much choice,” I remarked. “If I refuse to throw in my lot with you, you drown me; and if I accept your alternative, and should be unlucky enough to incur the suspicion that I am not acting honestly with you, what happens?”
“We hang you,” answered Wilde tersely.