The first possible companion his thoughts fell on, was Brydon.
“It would be bringing him out into the wilderness with a vengeance,” he said, and as a matter of fact it was just what Brydon wanted at the time, and he was overjoyed at the offer.
When Tolly heard of the proposed move, he came to a firm resolve to be in it. At first Strange absolutely refused to take him, but at last his persistence became so annoying that he gave in, but not till Tolly had taken the most powerfully-expressed oaths of abstinence.
When all this was settled, Tolly looked up with a grin and remarked deprecatingly,
“If you ’adn’t given in to take me straight, I meant to reach you crooked at Suez, sir, I never intended, your honour, to let you face them black varmint, without me.”
Strange looked at the hideous grinning creature, that one good puff of wind could blow off the face of the earth.
“Do you know you are an idiot, Tolly?”
“Yes, sir,” said Tolly cheerfully.
“And that you’re very likely going to your death?”
“Not when you’re about, sir; death and you ain’t mates.”