"Very well! Here's to show you I am armed." The report of his gun made
Nance jump, at the other side of the island, and set all the birds on
L'Etat--except the puffins, deep in their holes--circling and screaming.
The small shot tore up the water within a couple of yards of the boat,
which backed off hastily--much to his satisfaction, for he had feared
they might rush him before he had time to reload.
He had dropped flat after firing and recharged his gun as he lay. He was
sure they must have come armed, and feared a volley as soon as his own
discharge indicated his whereabouts.
As a matter of fact, they had come divided as to the truth of the report
that there was a man on L'Etat--even then as to him being the man they
sought. In any case, they had expected to take him unawares, and never
dreamt of his being armed and on the watch for them.
Thanks to Nance, he had turned the tables on them. It was they who were
taken unawares.
But if he spoke again, he said to himself, they would be ready for him,
and their answers would probably take the rude form of bullets.
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