"No. They hate him, but they fear him. Not one who has ever come here has gone away again, for he dares not let them return to tell where he is hiding. Now there are seventeen men and nine women here. With you, and those he will fetch from your yacht, there will be many more; but none of you will ever leave here with Ramon's consent," declared the girl.
"Then we will leave without it," remarked Mr. Todd, easily.
She gave him a quick, eager look.
"Will you dare to oppose Ramon, then?" she asked.
"On occasion we are rather daring," said Chesty, smiling at her simplicity. "The fellow ought to be arrested and given up to justice."
"Oh, if you would do that, we could all go away!" said the child, clasping her hands ecstatically. "Please arrest him, sir; I beg you to."
"We'll see about it, little one. Meantime, how can we get the key to unlock this chain?"
"Would you follow Ramon?" she asked.
"That is our greatest ambition, just now."