"What did you tell him?"
"Told him to wait till I asked you and he said he'd give me fifteen minutes."
Captain Ole turned to Mr. Lakewood. "It's up to you," he said.
"What's your judgment?"
"Well, there are three things we can do. We can hide the pearls and let them hunt, or we can hoist anchor and run for it, or we can stay and fight."
"And if you had the say?" Mr. Lakewood smiled.
"Well, I never ran away yet nor did I ever give in to the other fellow when I knew he was wrong," Captain Ole declared grimly.
"I thought that was the way you'd feel about it and I don't mind acknowledging that I feel the same way, but the last proposition is out of the question."
"Why is it?" Both the boys asked the question together.
"Do you think I could ever face your mother or father if I took that chance and one or both of you got shot?"