We had covered about half the distance, and were still some two hundred yards from the Neptune, when, without any warning, both men suddenly ceased rowing and rested their oars on the water.
I looked up at them sharply. "What are you doing?" I said. "Get on at once."
The fellow with the silver ear-rings eyed me with provoking insolence.
"No—no," he said. "You pay us now. You pay us two pound and then we take you to sheep."
Now the proper fee for a harbour boat at Leixoes is two shillings, so for a moment the audacity of this demand almost took away my breath. I suppose my face showed what I felt, for before I could speak Miss de Roda leaned across and touched me on the arm.
"Please don't let my being with you make any difference, Mr. Dryden," she said. "Do exactly what you think best."
I had quite recovered myself by this time, and the cool way in which she accepted the situation filled me with secret pleasure.
I addressed myself to the leader of the mutiny.
"I shall pay you your exact fare," I said, "and if you take my advice you will go on at once."
He met my gaze with an expression of truculent defiance.