“But why?” said Nancy.
“Because of us?” said Peggy.
“No,” said Susan. “Because of some talk he’d heard among the other natives.”
John had said nothing. Now he spoke. “We couldn’t give you the message, because there was no wind,” he said, “and I did not know what to do about it. I tried to give him the message, but he wouldn’t listen. Would you have told him it or not?”
“But if he locks up the houseboat we shan’t be able to raid it for green feathers for our arrows,” said Peggy.
“If he doesn’t lock it up, it may be raided by someone else,” said Nancy. “We ought not to let it be wasted on natives.”
They were now hurrying towards the harbour. The point was debated from all sides. It was finally settled by Nancy.
“We’ll tell him,” she said. “Let him put a padlock on it. Let him put ten padlocks. We’ll smash them with crowbars. I’ll tell him now, on the way home.”
“But you can’t,” said John. “He’s gone away.”
“Gone away?” said Nancy, as she pushed Amazon off.
“I saw him go. He took his parrot.”
“Well, he’s back then,” said Nancy. “We saw his light in the houseboat on our way here last night. The cabin windows were all lit up.”
“We can’t tell him now,” said Peggy.
“Why not?” said Nancy.