Case laughed.  “We can’t stop here all day, though,” said he.

“Don’t let me detain you,” says I.

He laughed again.  “Look here, Wiltshire, do you think me a fool?” he asked.

“More of a knave, if you want to know,” says I.

“Well, do you think it would better me to shoot you here, on this open beach?” said he.  “Because I don’t.  Folks come fishing every day.  There may be a score of them up the valley now, making copra; there might be half a dozen on the hill behind you, after pigeons; they might be watching us this minute, and I shouldn’t wonder.  I give you my word I don’t want to shoot you.  Why should I?  You don’t hinder me any.  You haven’t got one pound of copra but what you made with your own hands, like a negro slave.  You’re vegetating — that’s what I call it — and I don’t care where you vegetate, nor yet how long.  Give me your word you don’t mean to shoot me, and I’ll give you a lead and walk away.”

“Well,” said I, “You’re frank and pleasant, ain’t you?  And I’ll be the same.  I don’t mean to shoot you to-day.  Why should I?  This business is beginning; it ain’t done yet, Mr. Case.  I’ve given you one turn already; I can see the marks of my knuckles on your head to this blooming hour, and I’ve more cooking for you.  I’m not a paralee, like Underhill.  My name ain’t Adams, and it ain’t Vigours; and I mean to show you that you’ve met your match.”

“This is a silly way to talk,” said he.  “This is not the talk to make me move on with.”

“All right,” said I, “stay where you are.  I ain’t in any hurry, and you know it.  I can put in a day on this beach and never mind.  I ain’t got any copra to bother with.  I ain’t got any luminous paint to see to.”

I was sorry I said that last, but it whipped out before I knew.  I could see it took the wind out of his sails, and he stood and stared at me with his brow drawn up.  Then I suppose he made up his mind he must get to the bottom of this.

“I take you at your word,” says he, and turned his back, and walked right into the devil’s bush.

I let him go, of course, for I had passed my word.  But I watched him as long as he was in sight, and after he was gone lit out for cover as lively as you would want to see, and went the rest of the way home under the bush, for I didn’t trust him sixpence-worth.  One thing I saw, I had been ass enough to give him warning, and that which I meant to do I must do at once.

You would think I had had about enough excitement for one morning, but there was another turn waiting me.  As soon as I got far enough round the cape to see my house I made out there were strangers there; a little farther, and no doubt about it.  There was a couple of armed sentinels squatting at my door.  I could only suppose the trouble about Uma must have come to a head, and the station been seized.  For aught I could think, Uma was taken up already, and these armed men were waiting to do the like with me.