"Well, if that's so, there's no great harm done, old man. What are you worrying over?"
"I'm not worrying at all, Jacko, if you don't object to my keeping my word. Just continue my letters of marque until to-morrow. I promised him I'd go down this afternoon. You will be in command, of course, now you're here; but I'd hate to think of the poor wretch waiting down there in the marshes for me—it's an awful place for malaria!—and I not coming at all."
"Oh, I shan't interfere," Jack said quickly. "I had made up my mind to stay on shore one night more anyway, and I really gave you the yacht till the twentieth. You shall run this thing yourself; but, by Jove, to think of Uncle Randolph's Merle in business like that!"
"We started out to be pirates anyway," laughed Jerry, "and we haven't lived up to our reputation so far. Well, I'll try it. I shall be rid of the beggar by ten o'clock to-morrow, wind and weather permitting. It's awful good of you, old man. I thought you'd think I was a bally-ass to let myself be bamboozled that way; but when he was talking to me I felt as if he was being awfully bully-ragged, and I ought to help him out."
"Of course," was Jack's response. "Didn't you notice how Katrine had exactly the same feeling, just from your telling about it?"
Tab felt like winking to himself, but he preserved a grave countenance, and only asked,—
"What will you tell Mrs. Fairhew about the Merle's being away?"
"Oh, that 's simple enough. I'll tell her you wanted to visit Pæstum again, and you can say afterward that you ran across Wrenmarsh and brought him up to Naples. Twig it?"
"Clear as a bell. Come down and see me off."
He sprang from his chair with animation, greatly relieved that the captain had not prevented him from carrying out his plan. As Jack rose also, Jerry laid his hand affectionately on his shoulder.