Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/83

Rh "Quite," the girl replied, "but it's no use your going off in her to tackle Moniz and his schooner."

"Why not?" Keith put the question crisply. It was galling to him to stand there and see the Portuguese calmly working the oyster beds that might contain a fortune.

"Because you may depend on it Moniz never came back without being better armed," Joan declared. "Even if he only had the two rifles that he used the last time, he could pick you off in the whale-boat, where you would be without cover. But it is more likely that he will have half a dozen boys armed now."

"Miss Trent," Keith said, "I can't stay here and do nothing. If I had no faith in the pearl fishery I'd feel different about it, but up to a point I take the same view that your brother does. I'll have to ask you to stop behind, though."

Their eyes met for several seconds, and Keith, knowing that the girl's chief thought was for his personal safety, felt curiously elated. But her look of concern did not cause him to weaken in his purpose.

"I won't take any unnecessary chances," he said. "I'll bring the boat back safely, and your boys too, if possible; but something's got to be done."

"Wait until to-morrow," the girl urged. "You could drive him off so much better in the Kestrel."

But Keith shook his head regretfully.