Despite their keen sight, they evidently did not
recognize Suarez, who now wore a cap and a suit of clothes taken from
the locker of one of the missing stewards, while his appearance was so
altered otherwise that even the people on board found it difficult to
regard him as the monstrous-looking wizard whom they had dragged out of
the water some twelve hours earlier.
The impudence of the Indians exasperated Courtenay. The sheer size of
the _Kansas_ should have awed them, he thought.
"I wish they had left their women behind," he muttered. "If the men
were alone, an ounce or two of buck-shot would soon teach them to keep
their distance."
"Perhaps they are aware of the danger of boarding a ship which stands
so high above the sea as the _Kansas_," said Christobal. "Why not fire
a couple of rounds of blank cartridge at them?"
"Worst thing you can do," said Tollemache.
"But why?"
"They would be sure, then, you could not hurt them. If you shoot,
shoot straight, with the heaviest shot you possess."
At that moment the rowers permitted the canoe to swing round with the
tide.
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