"But I have no idea of being taken to Tangier or any other port in Morocco," Scott affirmed in the most resolute manner, shaking his head like a boy who is getting decidedly "mad."
"You are not going there voluntarily, you mean," suggested Louis.
"Neither voluntarily nor involuntarily!" protested the captain very warmly.
"But if you couldn't help yourself, you wouldn't go there voluntarily," said Felix, who was an attentive listener and a close observer of all that transpired.
"You had better translate that into ancient Greek so that we can't understand it, Flix," replied Louis.
"Oi kin translate it into modern Kilkenny Greek; but Oi have forgotten all the ancient Greek Oi iver knew, and that's sorra one bit," returned Felix. "If ye's can't help yersel', ye's can't prayvint the anti-pork ayters from taking ye's to Tangier. But Oi'll foight for ye's, Scotty darlint, wid me fishts and me revolver."
"Thank you, Felix; but I don't believe this is to be a matter of fighting so much as it will be of running away," replied Scott.
"Do you expect to run away from the Fatimé, Captain Scott?"
"That's the only way out of the scrape as I understand the situation," answered Scott, as he picked up the chart of the Strait, which lay on the miniature capstan upon the forecastle, and began to study it attentively.
"Do you expect to beat the Pacha's steamer on a straight run to Gibraltar, Captain Scott?" asked Louis incredulously.