Part 20 (1/2)

'Let be that wine and speak out.'

'Drink you, Christian.'

He refused. Philip fetched breath for a plunge.

'Bear me out, Christian, when I say that one there is who can do what none other living can--and will.'

Christian waited with a face of stone.

'Who can carry us safe through the reefs. Christian--this--you promised--you must undertake this.

'Look you, we may never be driven to it; a far s.h.i.+p could not easily make us out against this broken background.

'Christian, not another soul knows or shall know. Sir, you can tell him that the League had not even a guess. I stood out for that.

'You asked nothing. Had you but cared to ask, I would have told you earlier. You may have guessed; you cannot deny you are able. Sir, he is; and when I asked his services, he promised--without reserve he promised.

'Christian, you never have failed of your word; all your life that has been your pride, and so have I relied on it--a man's life relies on it.'

Christian kept an averted face, and stared down into the water.

'You can--I know you can!'

'I can.'

'And you will--to your promise I trusted.'

'I promised, and I will.'

Philip grasped his hand in cordial grat.i.tude; Christian suffered it, but his face was sullen. The Adventurer saw sweat standing on the brow of each, so that he wondered at what were behind.

Philip turned with a brightened eye.

'Now, sir, you may see that our chances are not so desperate, since, from storm or chase, we can put to safe haven beyond the reefs, to wait or dodge; or at worst, to get ash.o.r.e and take to the hills--a put back, but to you a good exchange for four walls. Only I have a thing to ask of you, sir, come good or ill: that you will never breathe to a soul of this way of escape.'

The Adventurer eyed him with something of distrust still, while he fingered his beard thoughtfully and smiled, half sneering.

'I understand--you would preserve a monopoly, and continue a good trade.

But it looks to me that you have done some cheating by your mate, that might make him decline partners.h.i.+p and seek his own market.'

'By heavens! you are over ready with your imputations!' said Philip, angry. 'The Alien there is welcome to make what profit he can for me.

Never with my goodwill shall I be here again. For why I undertook it, I had my own good reasons, which concern you not at all. But I will tell you that I know not of another man who would dare partners.h.i.+p with the Alien--ay, ask him, and he will not deny it; or who would put body and soul in jeopardy in this place.'

The Adventurer turned to Christian, smiling, courting friendly intelligence.

'You, it appears, have put body and soul in jeopardy, and know the place; and body and soul are none the worse.'