"He will kill you," said Ha'o once more.
"I hope not," was all the reply he got.
When the rest heard of his undertaking they also tried hard to dissuade him from it—all except Jean, who sat silent and thoughtful.
"It's risky," said Captain Cathie, with a gloomy shake of the head.
"Few good things come without risk, captain—besides, I don't believe it's as risky as you imagine."
"It's simply suicidal," said Aunt Jannet Harvey. "It's just throwing yourself away, Kenneth, and spoiling all your great plans, to say nothing of Jean's life."
"I shall go too," said Jean quietly.
"You, Jean?" said Blair, with a catch in the throat and a sudden weight at the heart.
"Yes, dear. If you go, I go. If it is death for you it is death for me in any case, and I would sooner it was together."
A terrible temptation this to choose the easier path—on her account. What right had he to drag her life into so great a danger? For imminent danger there was, though he had made light of it.