But they were of good tarry cord and did not give a fraction of an inch.

Tears of bitter rage filled his eyes and made furrows on his encrusted cheek.
Idiot that he had been, he had wrecked everything! What would Saskia and Dougal and Sir Archie do without a business man by their side?
There would be a muddle, and the little party would walk into a trap.
He saw it all very clearly.

The men from the sea would overpower them, there would be murder done, and an easy capture of the Princess; and the police would turn up at long last to find an empty headland.
He had also most comprehensively wrecked himself, and at the thought genuine panic seized him.

There was no earthly chance of escape, for he was tucked away in this infernal jungle till such time as his enemies had time to deal with him.

As to what that dealing would be like he had no doubts, for they knew that he had been their chief opponent.