“Then it can hardly be for the sake of the treasure, sir, that you propose to deal with these men.”

“It is not, ma’am.”

“Nor solely to protect us from them, since you have brought us here, where we need never have come.”

“No, ma’am.  I brought you here because I cannot be in two places at once, and it was necessary to keep both parties under my eye.  Having brought you, I am bound to protect you; but my main business here, and yours—­or at any rate Captain Branscome’s—­is to punish.”

“To punish?  But why to punish?”

Dr. Beauregard hesitated, with a glance at Plinny and at me, who stood beside her.

“A word in your ear, ma’am—­if you will allow me?”

He stepped close to Miss Belcher, and spoke a sentence or two which I could not catch.  But my eyes were on her face, and I saw it change colour.  The next moment her square mouth shut like a trap.

“If that be so, I wait for him along with you,” she announced.  “Oh, you may trust me, sir!  I have a fairly strong stomach with criminals, and no sentiment.”

“It shall be as you please, ma’am.  But, for the others, I would suggest their taking the boat and awaiting us around the point.  See, the tide has risen, and within five minutes she will float.  Mr. Goodfellow, will you accompany Miss Plinlimmon and the boy?  Wait, please, until completely afloat before pushing off; for our friends must be near at hand by this time, and the grating of her keel might give them the alarm.  For the same reason, ma’am, unless you have any particular question to ask, we had best start at once, and, when we have started, keep the strictest silence.  Shall I lead the way?”

They set off very cautiously, the Doctor leading, Miss Belcher close at his heels.  Captain Branscome a couple of paces behind her; gained the ridge, and passed out of sight around an angle of the rocks.  Now, to be left in this fashion was not at all to my mind.  It seemed to me that, when serious business was on hand, every one conspired to treat me as a baby.  I had told Captain Branscome yesterday that I would not put up with it; and though I stood in far greater awe of Dr. Beauregard than of the Captain, I felt none the less mutinous now.  Plinny, who in moments of agitation invariably had recourse to some familiar work for a sedative, was on her knees repacking the luncheon-baskets.  Her back was turned to me, and from her I glanced towards Mr. Goodfellow, who had stepped down to the boat, and was leaning over the gunwale to rearrange the gear.  From him I looked up the beach, to the ridge behind which the others had disappeared, and to the creepers overhanging the cliff.  Suddenly it came into my head that by gaining the upper end of the ridge, where it met the cliff, I could wriggle under these creepers, and observe from behind them all that went on, as well on the next beach as on this.  And with another glance at Plinny’s back I tiptoed away.