"Do you think the others saw the launch?" she asked.
"No—not unless some of the men strayed down the gully, which they were told not to do. The breakers would drown the noise of the engines and screw."
There was a slight pause.
"Will you tell them?" she went on.
"Why not?"
This time the pause was more eloquent than words. Quite unconsciously, Iris replied to her own question.
"Of course, as you said a little while ago, we owe our lives to Dom Corria De Sylva," she murmured, as if she were reasoning with herself.
By chance, probably because Hozier stooped to help her to her feet, his arm rested lightly across her shoulders.
"I will not pretend to misunderstand you," he said. "If the Brazilians do not mean to play the game, it would be a just punishment to let them rush on their own doom. But De Sylva may not agree with this fop of an officer, and, in any event, we must go straight with him until he shows his teeth."
"You seem to dislike Captain San Benavides," she said inconsequently.