Cledd, who hitherto had sat with a slight smile on his lean Yankee
face, now looked at Roger with keener interest.
"Yes," said Roger, "I shall go home by way of Sunda Strait."
"Now surely, Captain Hamlin, that would be folly; there are other courses."
"But none so direct."
"A long way round is often the shortest way home. Why, bless my soul, that
would be to back your sails in the face of Providence."
Roger leaned forward. "Why should I not go home by way of Sunda Strait?"
"Why, my dear sir, if any one were--er-er--to wish you harm,--and if your
own story is to be believed, there are those who do wish you harm,--Sunda
Strait, of all places in the world, is the easiest to cut you off."
"Mr. Johnston, that is nonsense," said Roger. "Such things don't happen. I
will go home by way of Sunda Strait."
"But, Captain Hamlin,--" the good man rubbed his hands more nervously than
ever,--"but, Captain Hamlin, bless my soul, I consider it highly
inadvisable."
Roger smiled. "Sir, I will not back down. By Sunda Strait we came. By Sunda
Strait we'll return. If any man wishes to see us there--" He finished the
sentence with another smile.
Mr. Cledd spoke up sharply. "Ay, and if a certain man we all know of should
appear, I'm thinking he'd be unpleasantly surprised to find me aboard.
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