He wanted the Princess to come back and to be somewhere near if there was a fight going, so that she might be a witness of his devotion.

But she must not herself run any risk, and he became anxious when he remembered her terrible sangfroid.

Dickson could no more restrain her than a child could hold a greyhound....

But of course it would never come to that.

The police would turn up long before the brig appeared--Dougal had thought that would not be till high tide, between four and five--and the only danger would be to the pirates.