"Are you willing to listen to reason?" asked a voice they
recognized as that of La Foy.
"What do you mean by reason?" asked Tom bitterly. "You have no
right to impose any conditions on us."
"I have the right of might, and I intend exercising it," was
the sharp rejoinder. "If you will listen to reason--"
"Which kind--yours or ours?" asked Tom pointedly.
"Mine, in this case," snapped back the Frenchman. "What I was
going to say was that I do not intend to starve you, or cause you
discomfort by thirst. I am going to open the door and put in food
and water. But I warn you that any attempt to escape will be met
with severe measures.
"We are in sufficient force to cope with you. I think you have
seen that." He spoke calmly and in perfect English, though with a
marked accent. "My men are armed, and will stand here ready to
meet violence with violence," he went on. "Is that understood?"
For a moment none of the captives replied.
"I think it will be better to give in to him at least for a
while," said Captain Warner in a low voice to Tom. "We need
water, and will soon need food. We can think and plan better if
we are well nourished.
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