"And how you are cut off if you don't," retorted Ryder. "When I was an apprentice I went through in fine weather, and I'd rather drive a 'bus down Fleet Street in a fog than try it."
She said he had very little enterprise and pouted.
"Suppose the Battle-Axe does it?"
Ryder declined to suppose it.
"John wouldn't try it if you could guarantee the weather. I know him."
"You never take my advice," said his wife.
"I love you too much," replied Will Ryder. He put his arm about her, but she was cross and pushed him away.
"This is mutiny," said the captain, smiling.
"Well, I feel mutinous," retorted Connie. "I wanted you to steal two of your cousin's men and you wouldn't. I'm sure they would have come, for what the Battle-Axe owed them. And you wouldn't. And now I want to go through the Straits and you won't. The very, very next time that I want to do anything I shall do it without asking you. Why did you bet a hundred pounds if you weren't prepared to try to win it?"
"We'll win yet," said the skipper, cheerfully, "We're only just started."