"That's true."
"And I say, I've another idea. We want food badly: why shouldn't I go out at night with Bill and a few others and shoot something?"
"Are you quite mad, my dear chap? Your shots would bring them on you in no time."
"Of course I shouldn't attempt to shoot anything until we were miles away from the camp. We could cover five or six miles before it was light, and if we take care not to go to windward they won't hear a single rifle-shot. A volley would be a different thing, I grant you."
"I doubt whether the reeds on that side of the pool are thick enough to hide the canoe, and if they discover it----"
"There's no need to hide it," John interrupted. "One of the men can paddle it back, and come for us again when we give you a hail. We shall have to return by night, of course."
"Well, you bowl over my objections one after another, so I suppose you must go. Can't I come too?"
"We can't both leave the place."
"Well, why shouldn't I go and you stay?"
"You see, I understand Bill better than you do, and he'll be the one to find the game. I really think, Charley, this time----"