What do you say?
Don't answer me hastily, and do not take the oath unless you are convinced you can keep it however great the temptation held out to you to betray us." Ralph needed but a minute to consider the proposal.

The oath did not bind him in any way to abstain from making an attempt to escape, but simply to guard the secret of the privateer rendezvous.

If he remained here on shore he would have no chance whatever of escape, and might moreover meet with very rough treatment from those left in charge of him.

"I am quite ready to take the oath not to reveal the secret of this place, captain," he said.

"I do not think that in any case after having been so kindly treated by you I should have been inclined to betray you.