Anything might happen to them.  This situation will prolong itself indefinitely unless — unless we beat their cunning by our strategy.”  He paused.  “I don’t think they’re competent to take care of themselves.  I think it’s our duty to take care of them.  I think the sooner — .”  He paused again.  “At the same time, I’m prepared to keep to our agreement.  I won’t take a step in this matter until we’ve all come round to it.”

“If it wasn’t for their wings,” Honey said.

Billy shuddered violently.  “If it wasn’t for their wings,” he agreed.

Frank bore Billy’s defection in the spirit of classic calm with which he accepted everything.  But Pete could not seem to reconcile himself to it.  He was constantly trying to draw Billy into debate.

“I won’t argue the matter, Pete,” Billy said again and again. " I can’t argue it.  I don’t pretend even to myself that I’m reasonable or logical, or just or ethical.  It’s only a feeling or an instinct.  But it’s too strong for me.  I can’t fight it.  It’s as if I’d taken a journey drugged and blindfolded.  I don’t know how I got on this side — but I’m here.”

The effect of this was to weaken a little the friendship that had grown between Billy and Pete.  Also Honey pulled a little way from Ralph and slipped nearer to his old place in Billy’s regard.

But now there were three warring elements in camp.  Honey, Ralph, and Billy hobnobbed constantly.  Frank more than ever devoted himself to his reading.  Pete kept away from them all, writing furiously most of the day.

“We’re going to have a harder time with him than with Frank,” Billy remarked once.

“I guess we can leave that matter to take care of itself,” Ralph said with one of his irritating superior smiles.  “How about it, Honey?”

“Surest thing you know,” Honey answered reassuringly.  All you’ve got to do is wait — believe muh!”

“It does seem as if we’d waited pretty long,” Honey himself fumed two weeks later, “I say we three get together and repudiate that agreement.”

“That would be dishonorable,” Billy said, “and foolish.  You can see for yourself that we cannot stir a step in this matter without co-operation.  As opponents, Pete and Frank could warn the girls off faster than we could lure them on.”

“That’s right, too,” agreed Honey.  “But I’m damned tired of this,” he added drearily.  “Not more tired than we are,” said Billy.

An incident that varied the monotony of the deadlock occurred the next day.  Pete Murphy packed up food and writing materials and, without a word, decamped into the interior.  He did not return that day, that night, or the next day, or the next night.

“Say, don’t you think we ought to go after him,” Billy said again and again, “something may have happened.”

And, “No!” Honey always answered.  “Trust that Dogan to take care of himself.  You can’t kill him.”