"I didn't think it was necessary to answer it," said Matt. "I would blow up the Grampus before I would allow her to fall into the hands of General Pitou."
"Better think well before you make a foolish answer like that," struck in Fingal.
"That's my answer, just the same."
"How about the rest of you?" and the don turned to Dick and Speake.
"What Motor Matt says matches my sentiments to a dot," replied Dick.
"Mine, too," added Speake. "If me and my mates had obeyed Motor Matt like we'd ought to have done, we'd never have got into this fix in the first place. It may be a little late in the day, but here's where I begin carryin' out his orders jest as he gives 'em."
"Do you know what this decision means?" queried the don gravely.
"I'm not thinking of that, but of my duty to Captain Nemo, Jr.," said Matt.
"It means," fumed Fingal, enraged at the refusal of Matt and his friends to cast their lot with the revolutionists, "that you'll never live to get back to Belize!"
"Or even back down the river to Port Livingston," supplemented the don. "Presently we are going to tie up at an old landing on the river bank. After that, we will leave you by yourselves until nightfall. This will give you a little more time to think over our proposition. Life is a pleasant thing to young men like you, and you ought not to cast it lightly aside. Come on, Fingal," he finished.