Susan said, “What about the grog?” And that made them all feel thirsty and hungry.
“But they might come out while we are buying grog in Rio,” said John. “They might slip through behind the islands, and then when we come back from Rio we might be waiting here while they are capturing our camp.”
Titty had an idea. There were plenty of small islets at this end of the big islands that sheltered Rio Bay. Why not put her ashore on one of them to watch while they sailed into Rio for the grog. Then at least they could be sure of knowing whether the pirates had come out again or not.
“Good for Titty,” said Captain John.
There was a small islet with nothing on it but rocks and heather only a hundred yards away. They sailed to leeward of it, and then John put Swallow ’s head up into the wind.
“Keep a lookout for rocks under water, Roger,” said the mate.
Swallow slipped along with sail flapping, yard by yard nearer to the islet.
“Stand by to lower the sail, Mister Mate,” said John, and Susan made ready to lower away in a hurry. But there was no need. The islet rose out of water deep enough to let the Swallow lie afloat close alongside it. There was the gentlest little bump, and Titty was over the side and ashore.
“The telescope,” she said.
“Here it is,” said the mate.