“Perhaps not,” cried Lingard.
“Too late,” said Jaffir, “we are ten only, and at sunrise we go out to die.” He went to the cabin door and hesitated there with a puzzled air, being unused to locks and door handles.
“What are you going to do?” asked Lingard.
“I shall swim back,” replied Jaffir. “The message is spoken and the night can not last forever.”
“You can stop with me,” said Lingard, looking at the man searchingly.
“Hassim waits,” was the curt answer.
“Did he tell you to return?” asked Lingard.
“No! What need?” said the other in a surprised tone.
Lingard seized his hand impulsively.
“If I had ten men like you!” he cried.