One of
them, Dick Harris by name, answered:
"We are a burden to the authorities here. They would be glad to be rid
of us without the trouble and expense of sending us to England, where,
no doubt, we would get the rope's end of the law. Last night when you
paid us off, we stayed out late. When we got back at the jail we had to
knock again and again. At last the jailer called out: 'Who's there?' We
gave our names, when he exclaimed: 'Now if you blasted shell-backs
can't get home at a reasonable hour, you can stay out. This is the last
time I will be disturbed from my slumbers to let you in.'"
The three worthies implored Paul to take them away on the Cayosa. I
referred them to the negro captain. The latter earnestly assured them
that, he would sooner run a cargo of scorpions than risk himself and
crew to the tender care of the mild mannered Liverpool tars.
When the sloop was fully repaired, she started on a trip around the
island, but the breakers were too heavy for successful work. She
directed her course northward and soon reentered the Cariacon group. A
couple of months were spent in those lovely islands. The great
breakers that swept in along the coast of Trinidad, Tobago and Granada
were missing. In the tranquil bays and inlets, they pursued their
occupation of bringing up the natural treasures of the deep with more
profit and less risk.
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