“You’ll have to wait a deuce of a long time, then,” he rejoined. “That is, if these fellows take the usual precautions with their prisoners. And if you do get a chance and have the misfortune to be recaptured, you’ll wish you’re dead long before you are!”
“Cheerful optimist, aren’t you, Doc?”
“It just happens that I know,” continued Raxworthy’s companion in misfortune. “Provided these fellows think there’s a chance of obtaining ransom, they won’t treat you so badly. But if they see no likelihood of the British Government paying up, or if you try to slip through their fingers, then——”
He snapped his fingers impressively.
“Then you wouldn’t try to escape if you had a chance?”
“My dear fellow, maturity has given me discretion,” replied the doctor.
Raxworthy pondered for a few moments.
“Look here,” he exclaimed. “Supposing I made a dash for it. Would they make it the worse for you, out of spite?”
“Having lost one possible source of wealth, they proceed to destroy the other and lesser one, eh? Hardly, I think. While there’s money there’s hope, is an axiom among them.”
“Good enough,” declared the midshipman.