He had
prepared his replies beforehand.
"Surely you will tell me, Mr. Boyle?" she pleaded wistfully.
"Well, I happen to know there's a letter in the doctor's hands. But
that is to be given to you in case of accident alone. Isn't that so,
doctor? And there's no sign of any accident yet, thank goodness!"
Boyle sighed, like a man who lays down a heavy load. He had
successfully engineered Christobal into the conversation.
The Spaniard drew near. He had heard all that had passed, and tried a
new line.
"I was rather hoping that you would not put that awkward query," he
said, more alive than the sailor to the wisdom of discussing the very
topic which offered so many thorns. "Of course, none of us, least of
all Courtenay himself, disguises the difficulties which confront him.
We have not fought the Alaculofs in two serious battles without
learning their tenacity of purpose, and the mere fact that the men
hidden in that cleft are compelled to remain invisible shows that they
are beleaguered. But the last thing the Indians will expect is the
appearance of a boat-load of armed men at this hour, and to take the
enemy unawares is the essence of good generalship.
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