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"Well, it's this here; if it was me and you and old Barney where is old Barney?" "Here, messmate." "Oh, come then, I might be right, on'y you see we've got Mr Dale with us." "Look here, what are you fogging about? Why don't you say what yer mean, my lad? Now then, out with it. Where are we? 'cause Mr Dale wants to know." "Well, as he's here, we can't be here," growled Dumlow.
"Well, you see, sir, it's like this; if me or Neb or Barney there had scared one of the officers, and the skipper had knocked us down, why, we shouldn't ha' liked it eh, mates?" "No," came in a growl. "Course not; but then we're Englishmen, and knowing as we was in the wrong, why, next day we should have forgot all about it." "Ay, ay," growled Dumlow, and Barney nodded his acquiescence.
"Rum arn't the right word," said Dumlow, and then all was perfectly still again, and I lay there wondering what was the matter, and why I couldn't think as I should, and make out why I was lying there on my back in the hot sun listening to a low moaning sound, and some one close to my ear talking in a muttering tone.
And all the while nearer and nearer glided the boat, and I saw Jarette, after cocking the pistol, raise his arm to fire again. "Yah! boo! coward!" yelled Dumlow, and as he shouted, he lifted one of the oars which he had thrust over the side, and let it fall with a heavy splash just as the Frenchman drew trigger, and the bullet went through the sail.
Theer was nothing else for a man to do but to go with the bad beggars, and when I seemed to jyne 'em, why of course Neb Dumlow and old Barney joined at once." "Bob!" I ejaculated, as a feeling of delight sent a flush of blood to my cheeks, and I felt hot and excited once more, "you don't mean to say that " "But I just do, sir. 'Tarn't likely I should run all this risk if I didn't mean it."
"Bring 'em forward," said Jarette, and the two men were thrust to the front, Dumlow growling like some strange animal, and Blane trying to strike at his guards with his elbows. "Steady there," shouted Jarette. "Steady it is," growled Dumlow. "Look here, you Jarette, if you'll just have these ropes undone on the starboard side to let one o' my fins at liberty I'll fight yer one hand."
I felt myself laid down while something was done close to me, and then I was lifted once more and carried out into the warm sunshine, and laid upon the hot boards of the deck. "Poor laddie," growled Bob Hampton, "he's got it badly. Rum world this here, Neb!" "Orful," said Dumlow. "Reg'lar wusser," said another voice, which I knew to be Blane's.
"Well, sir, I can't say only that you know how far Neb Dumlow got, and then how Bob Hampton got a little farther." "Didn't," growled Dumlow. "Now what's the good o' you talking, messmate? because he did, just a bit farther," said Barney, in a tone full of protest. "You may just as well say I didn't go three times as far." "Nay, I won't say that, lad."
"Barney, doctor, Neb, come and help here." We all made a rush to the side to help Bob, and our presence was needed, for man after man had now reached the chains, where they waited for Jarette's orders to make a rush. "Here, let me come," cried Dumlow, limping up with his capstan-bar. "Give me room, and I'll clear the lot down."
How?" "Tell me what you mean." "I mean, I want you to tell me what you mean, sir." "To dress your wound." "Ay, but you're a-doing of something with that 'ere other hand." "No, my man, no." "Arn't got a knife in't then?" "Certainly not. Why?" "Dumlow thinks you were going to cut his leg off, sir," I said, feeling amused in spite of our terrible position. "Course I did," growled the man.
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