“Oh, I don’t know,” came from the shadows back of Blakely. “He’s not so much. I guess he’d break more than a promise if it came to the point.”
“You wouldn’t dare to say that to his face, Chris Spendly,” retorted Nanny, warmly. “He’d make you shake in your boots.”
Chris discreetly remained silent. His malignant nature had caused him to revile the boy whom he knew in his vicious heart was lying mangled and bleeding at the foot of the bluff, but he had sense enough not to carry it too far.
And Judson was frantically plucking at his sleeve and begging him to remain quiet for Heaven’s sake.
“I think you will see Faraday showing up in ample time, youngsters,” said Blakely, kindly, addressing Joy and Nanny. “There isn’t any reason why he shouldn’t.”
“Here come the boats!” suddenly exclaimed a cadet.
Three men-of-war cutters dashed in from the darkness and rounded to alongside the landing steps.
An officer sprang out, glanced at his watch, then cried briskly:
“The liberty party will fall in and answer promptly as the names are called.”