Page 146 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

Maria I was dreadfully bored, but one soon gets used to it.
There is a sort of satisfaction to me, by George, in keeping
the scoundrels in order. I like to see the fellows’ eyes glint at
you as you walk past ‘em. Gad, they’d tear me to pieces, if
they dared, some of ‘em!’ and he laughed grimly, as though
the hate he inspired was a thing to be proud of.
‘How shall we go?’ asked Vickers. ‘Have you got any in-
structions?’
‘No,’ says Frere; ‘it’s all left to you. Get ‘em up the best
way you can, Arthur said, and pack ‘em off to the new pen-
insula. He thinks you too far off here, by George! He wants
to have you within hail.’
‘It’s dangerous taking so many at once,’ suggested Vick-
ers.
‘Not a bit. Batten ‘em down and keep the sentries awake,
and they won’t do any harm.’
‘But Mrs. Vickers and the child?’
‘I’ve thought of that. You take the Ladybird with the
prisoners, and leave me to bring up Mrs. Vickers in the Os-
prey.’
‘We might do that. Indeed, it’s the best way, I think. I
don’t like the notion of having Sylvia among those wretches,
and yet I don’t like to leave her.’
‘Well,’ says Frere, confident of his own ability to accom-
plish anything he might undertake, ‘I’ll take the Ladybird,
and you the Osprey. Bring up Mrs. Vickers yourself.’
‘No, no,’ said Vickers, with a touch of his old pomposity,
‘that won’t do. By the King’s Regulations—‘
‘All right,’ interjected Frere, ‘you needn’t quote ‘em. ‘The

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