"No more you did," said I; and climbing down and sitting on a
gravel-heap beside him, I told him all the story.

"And now, Jimmy," I wound up, "you must guess what I'm going to do."

"I don't need to," said he. "I know."

"I wager you don't."

"I wager I do."

"Well, then, I'm going back. Was that what you guessed?"

"I think you will not."

"Ah, but I will," said I. "I swore by the blood of a Fitzroy
Pilkington I'd be back in the morning, and I can't retreat from so
tremendous an oath as that. Back I mean to go. As for the real
Captain--if Captain he is--I fancy I've scared him out of this
neighbourhood for some time to come. And as for the credentials, I
fancy, at my time of life, I should be able to write my own
commendation. I believe the old boy has a sneaking good-will towards
me. I can't answer for the girl; but I can answer that she'll hold
her tongue for a while, at all events. This life doesn't become a
man of my education and natural ability. And the risk is worth
running."

"I wouldn't, if I were you," says he, very drily.