But to go with me I must have your absolute faith, and you must agree to share in all our perils and achievements." His meaning was quite plain, and might have tempted many another, thinking, in any event, to use it as a plan for escape, but Robert never faltered for a moment.

His own instincts were always for the right, and long comradeship with Willet and Tayoga made his will to obey those instincts all the stronger.
"Thank you, Captain," he replied, "but I judge that your cruises are all outside the law, and I cannot go with you on them, at least, not willingly." The slaver shrugged his shoulder.
"'Tis just as well that you declined," he said.

"'Twas but a passing whim of mine, and ten minutes later I'd have been sorry for it had you accepted." He shrugged his shoulders again, took a turn about the deck and then went down to his cabin.

Robert, notified by a sailor, the first man on the schooner outside of the slaver to speak to him, ate supper with him there.

The food was good, but the captain was now silent, speaking only a few times, and mostly in monosyllables.