"Oh, yes, I understand," said the mate, smiling in a peculiar way; and he went to the arms rack and took down two rifles and ammunition-belts for the second mate and himself. "Hold hard a minute," said the captain. "Just understand this, Dellow: if they leave you alone you leave them alone. If they don't they must take the consequences." "I understand," said the mate coolly. "How's Sir Humphrey going on, sir? Is there any danger?" This was to Brace. "The captain and Mr Briscoe think there is nothing to be alarmed about," was the reply. "I hope they are right." "So does everybody, sir," said the mate warmly. "He seems to be sleeping easy like." Brace nodded. "Well, he wouldn't be doing so if poison had got hold of him." "Right, Dellow," said the captain, nodding his head with satisfaction. "Look here, squire, you try and make your mind a bit easy." "I am going to," replied Brace. "Well, then, let Sir Humphrey have a good sleep while you go on deck with Dellow here, and take your rifle with you too. You're a good shot, and ought to be able to bring some of those foreign archers to their senses." "I came to collect natural-history specimens," said Brace warmly. "I don't want to slaughter ignorant savages." "Then you don't believe in that Italian law?" said the captain, with a chuckle. "Which Italian law do you mean?" said Brace, staring. "Well, Roman-Latin then, if you like. It's all the same, isn't it--old Italian _Lex talionis_. That means, serve out the chap who has served you out, don't it?" "Something of the kind," said Brace, smiling. "No, I don't want to take revenge on those who are perhaps innocent." "Just as you like, sir," said the captain, rather gruffly; "though I don't see where the innocence comes in. But, setting aside taking revenge, I suppose you won't mind helping to defend the vessel if some of these fellows should come off in their canoes to attack us?" "Why, of course not," said Brace warmly. "You know I would do my best." "To be sure I do, squire," said the captain, smiling. "Well, then, suppose you go and help Dellow and Lynton, and I daresay Mr Briscoe will join you as well." "Certainly, captain," said the American: "a few shots now may give the Indians a lesson, and save us from having to fire hundreds later on. Perhaps it will be the means of preventing them from molesting us again." "But is anyone to remain with my brother?" said Brace. "He wants no watching, my lad. He's best left alone. You can come down now and again to have a look at him." CHAPTER THIRTEEN. A SIGHT OF THE ENEMY.