“It is a woman’s reason!” said he, laughing lightly.
“Do you mean that your failure would imperil our lives?”
“Something like it?” he replied, after a moment’s thought.
“Our lives!” Davila cried. “Do you appreciate what you are saying!”
The man did not answer.
“Is it possible you mean to threaten our lives?” Davila persisted.
“I threaten nothing—yet.”
“Oh, you threaten nothing, yet!” she mocked. “But you will threaten, if——”
“Exactly! if—you are at liberty to guess the rest.”
“I don’t care to guess!” she retorted. “Do you appreciate that the whole Eastern Shore will be searching for us by morning—and that, if the least indignity is offered us, your lives won’t be worth a penny?”