'Did he get home all right?' said Dan.
'I never knew. We saw him hoist sail under the moon-track and stand away. I have prayed that he found his wife and the children.'
'And what did you do?'
'We waited on the Marsh till the day. Then I sat by the gold, all tied in an old sail, while Hugh went to Pevensey, and De Aquila sent us horses.'
Sir Richard crossed hands on his sword-hilt, and stared down stream through the soft warm shadows.
'A whole shipload of gold!' said Una, looking at the little Golden Hind. 'But I'm glad I didn't see the Devils.'
'I don't believe they were Devils,'Dan whispered back.
'Eh?' said Sir Richard. 'Witta's father warned him they were unquestionable Devils. One must believe one's father, and not one's children. What were my Devils, then?'
Dan flushed all over. 'I—I only thought,' he stammered; 'I've got a book called The Gorilla Hunters—it's a continuation of Coral Island, sir—and it says there that the gorillas (they're big monkeys, you know) were always chewing iron up.'