It would be better for us not to try to do any cooking, and so make a smoke." The captain did not wish to talk any more.

Miss Markham's last remark had put a new fear into his mind.

Suppose the Rackbirds had lured Rynders and his men on shore?
Those sailors had but few arms among them.

They had not thought, when they left, that there would be any necessity for defence against their fellow-beings.
When Edna Markham told Mrs.Cliff what the captain had said about their chances, and what he intended to do for their protection, the older woman brightened up a good deal.
"I have great faith in the captain," she declared, "and if he thinks it is worth while to make a fight, I believe he will make a good one.

If they should be firing, and Mr.Rynders is approaching the coast, even if it should be night, he would lose no time in getting to us." Toward the close of that afternoon three wild beasts came around the point of the bluff and made their way northward along the beach.