“You, sir, are only a passenger, I suppose?”
“As you say, Mr. Glass, and I had even intended to remain at Tristan d’Acunha for some weeks. But I have had to relinquish that project.”
“I am sorry to hear it, sir. We should have been happy to offer you hospitality while awaiting the arrival of another ship.”
“Such hospitality would have been most valuable to me,” I replied, “but unfortunately I cannot avail myself of it.”
In fact, I had finally resolved not to quit the schooner, but to embark for America from the Falkland Isles without much delay. I felt sure that Captain Len Guy would not refuse to take me to the islands. I informed Mr. Glass of my intention, and he remarked, still in a tone of annoyance,—
“As for your captain, I have not even seen the colour of his hair.”
“I don’t think he has any intention of coming ashore.”
“Is he ill?”
“Not to my knowledge. But it does not concern you, since he has sent his lieutenant to represent him.”
“Oh, he’s a cheerful person! One may extract two words from him occasionally. Fortunately, it is easier to get coin out of his pocket than speech out of his lips.”