'Near to Cape Town,' said he.
'But what do you call near to Cape Town?' I asked.
'Oh, dere will be a river—we find him. We anchor and go ashore and walkee, walkee,' he exclaimed.
Helga gave a little start.
'What you and your mates wants is that we should put ye ashore somewhere?' said Abraham.
'Yaas, dat's so,' called the fellow named Pallunappachelly.
'No, no!' cried Nakier, 'not somewhere, Misser Vise. Near Cape Town, I say. Not too far for we to walkee.'
'But to set ye ashore, anyhow?' exclaimed Abraham.
The man nodded.
'I suppose you know, Nakier,' said I, with a sense of dismay pressing like a weight upon my spirits, 'that this young lady and I wish to return home? The Captain refused to part with us—he insisted on carrying us with him—we have a home to return to. Surely you do not intend that we should make the passage to the Cape in this barque?'