“I did not think there were such pearls to be got in these parts,” he observed. “Have you many of them, captain?”
“Enough to satisfy me,” answered Harry. “Indeed, as I said before, I do not think there are many more to be procured at present.”
“We shall see about that,” remarked Captain Myers, glancing his eyes round the deck. They fell, I observed, on the guns, and he evidently noted each man of our crew, who had come up to have a talk with the strangers alongside. Harry had not invited any of the latter on board, and I guessed had no intention of doing so.
Captain Myers waited, as if expecting to be asked below to take something, as is usual when one skipper visits another; but Harry, who did not like his appearance more than I had done, apologised by saying that, as the cabin was devoted to the use of the ladies, he could not invite strangers into it; but not wishing altogether to be inhospitable, he ordered the steward to bring up some wine and spirits and biscuits, which were placed in a tray on the companion-hatch. Our visitor, without ceremony, poured out for himself half a tumbler of rum, to which he added a very small quantity of water.
“I like a nip neat at this time of the morning,” he observed, as he gulped it down. “It sets a fellow up. Well, as you have got ladies aboard, I won’t trouble you with my company any longer,” he added, taking another look round the deck. “Good morning to you,” and without more ado he stepped back into his boat.
I saw him surveying the schooner as he pulled away. As soon as he was gone, Sam Pest came aft.
“He’s the very chap I thought he was, and as neat a villain as ever lived,” he said. “I knew him at a glance, but I do not know if he knew me. If he did, he did not show it; but that’s just like him, for he is as cunning as need be, and, depend on it, will be up to some trick or other if he thinks he can play it to his own advantage.”
I repeated to Harry what Sam Pest had said.
“He must be very cunning to play us a trick while we are on our guard,” observed Harry.
We noticed that the brigantine’s boat pulled for the shore, her skipper having apparently no fear of the natives. We were now waiting anxiously for a breeze to get out of the harbour, but not a breath of wind stirred its smooth surface. As we were not likely to be able to sail at all events till the evening, when there might be a breeze, some of the men asked leave to go on shore; but Harry, suspecting their object was to have a talk with the boat’s crew of the brigantine, refused, and told Tom Platt to find work for them on board.