“No one knows why she was brought on board,” continued the mate, speaking fast, to say what he wished, before any further interruption occurred. “Some say that Signor Paolo brought her here; but it is supposed that he did so according to your orders.”
“They do, do they?” said Zappa, compressing his lips. “And now, tell we what would they have done?”
“They would have you get rid of her,” answered the mate, boldly.
“It is what I am about to do,” returned the captain. “I purpose landing her at Cephalonia.”
“What, without a ransom!” exclaimed Baldo.
“With or without a ransom, as the case may be,” said Zappa, coldly.
“If without a ransom, there would be a more speedy way of getting rid of her, and would better satisfy them,” observed the mate, with a dogged look, in which a certain amount of fear was mingled, with audacity. “We want no women on board—all has gone ill when we have had them,” he muttered, in a lower tone, which the captain, however, did not fail to hear.
“Speak out—what mean you?” he asked fiercely.
“That the deep sea will be the safest place for her, where she will not trouble us more,” exclaimed the mate, half trembling as he uttered the words, for there was something in Zappa’s look which warned him he had better not say them.
Somewhat to his surprise, however, his captain suppressed whatever feelings inspired him.