"Oh, he does, does he?—So you've been here before, have you, Tomkins?"
Tomkins looked daggers at Bill Ware.
"Yessir, I was here some years back."
"Know the coast pretty well?"
"Yessir, pretty well."
"Thought so," muttered the Skipper in a low tone. "Knew it better than I did." Then aloud: "Very well, my man. Now do you think you can get horses from whoever's governor down there, and be back in a week?"
"Sartin sure, sir," answered Tomkins unblushingly.
While Tomkins was speaking, the Skipper was muttering under his breath, "Better get rid of the rascals, anyway."
"You don't think——" said I.
"I do think——" said he.