true hiding-place. I wish to be candid
with you. If my friends and I had realized that you were here by
accident, we ought to have taken no steps to save you."

"Really!" snarled Coke, eying the unruffled Brazilian much as an
Andulusian bull might glare at a picador. A buzz of angry whispering
came from the crew. Even Iris flashed a disdainful glance at the man
who uttered this atrocious sentiment. De Sylva raised his hand. He
permitted himself the luxury of a wintry smile.

"Pray, do not misunderstand me," he said. "I am humane as most others,
but it is difficult to decide whether or not mere humanity, setting
aside self-interest, would not rather condemn you to the speedy death
of the wreck than drag you to the worse fate that awaits you here. And
please remember that we did succor you, thus risking observation and a
visit by the troops when the sea permits a landing. But that is not
the true issue. An hour ago there were four people on this bare
rock--four of us who looked for escape to-night. We were supplied with
such small necessaries of existence as would enable us to live if our
rescuers were delayed for a day, or even two. Now, there will be no
rescue. We are--" he looked slowly around--"twenty instead of four;
but we have the same quantity of stores, which consist of a
half-emptied skin of wine, a bunch of bananas, a few scraps of maize
bread, and some strips of dried meat. Do you follow me?"

Coke, who had been holding Watts in a sitting posture by a firm grip on
his collar, allowed the limp figure to sprawl headlong again. He
wanted to plunge both hands deeply into his trousers pockets, because
men of his type associate attitude so closely with thought that the one
is apt to become almost dependent on the other. And so, for the
moment, the safeguarding of Watts was of no consequence. But Watts had
benefited much by the sousing of the spray, while his recovery was
expedited by the forcible ejection of the salt water he had swallowed.
He raised himself on one hand, and looked about with an inquiring eye.
The Brazilian officer's uniform seemed to fascinate him.

"'Ello!" he gurgled. "Run in? Well I'm----"

"Is not that man wounded? I thought I saw him dashed against the
rocks," said De Sylva.

"'E ought to be," said Coke, "but 'e's on'y drunk. A skin o' rum, 'arf
empty, too, just like your skin o' wine, mister."

"Let him be taken outside and gagged if he resists."

There was an un