The captain paused near him and said to Robert in a satisfied tone: "It won't be long now, Peter, until we're among the islands, and it may be, too, that we'll see another ship before long.

We've been on a lone sea all the way down, but you'll find craft among the islands." "It might be a hostile vessel, a privateer," said Robert.
"It's not privateers of which I'm thinking." The light was dim, but Robert plainly saw the questing look in his eyes, the look of a hunter, and he drew back a pace.

This man was no mere smuggler.

He would not content himself with such a trade.

But he said in his best manner: "I should think, captain, it was a time to avoid company, and that you would be better pleased with a lone sea." "One never knows what is coming in these waters," said the slaver.