“Besides the knives for cutting pemmican and bread and butter,” said Susan.
“This knife was given us by Uncle Jim last year for polishing the cannon on the houseboat,” said the elder Amazon.
“Is the man on the houseboat your uncle?” asked Titty. “I thought you said he was your enemy too.”
“He is only our uncle sometimes,” said the younger Amazon. “He was last year, but this year he is in league with the natives, and the natives are very unfriendly.”
“Our natives are friendly,” said Titty. “Everybody is friendly except the houseboat man … and you,” she added. “And if he’s your uncle you must be in league with him.”
“We jolly well aren’t,” said the elder Amazon.
“Shut up, Titty, and wait for the parley,” said Captain John.
Roger came back with Titty’s flag from the Swallow .
“They’ve got a lovely boat,” he whispered to Mate Susan.
“Hand over that knife,” said John.
Roger handed it over and John cut a tall sapling from a hazel on the edge of the clearing. He made a sharp point at one end of it to stick in the ground. Then he fastened Titty’s flag to the top of it, found a soft place, and planted his flagstaff firmly beside the pirate flag of the Amazons. Then he wiped the knife on the grass, shut it up, and put it with the bows and the pikes.
“Now for the parley,” said he. He walked towards the Amazons and held out his hand.