"I am sorry to bring King Charles's head into
the conversation, but, after all, the ship's safety is essential to
your survey."
"Every hour strengthens my opinion," was the confident reply. "Suarez
says that there is a reasonable chance of occasional brief spells of
fine weather at this period of the year. At any rate, the gale may not
be absolutely continuous, and Walker is assured that he can patch up
the engines for half speed. Given a calm day, a day like this, for
instance, we can reach the Straits in a few hours."
"And the Indians?"
"I leave them out of my reckoning. What else can I do?"
"Kill 'em," said Tollemache.
Courtenay glanced sharply at his fellow-countryman. He disliked these
references to the Alaculof bogy in Elsie's presence. It was enough
that it should exist without being constantly paraded. Though the girl
herself was the culprit, Tollemache should have left the topic alone.
But Tollemache was a man of fixed ideas. The device of canvas shields
to repel boarders had set him thinking how much more effective it would
be if the savages were kept at a distance.
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