Part 26 (2/2)

”So on hi here,” cried Mark

”Yes, sir, several someuns,” said Tom Fillot ”Oh, my poor head!”

”But you don't tell rily

”Didn't know as it wanted no telling on, sir Thought you knowed”

”But I know nothing I was roused up, dragged out of the cabin, and thron into the boat”

”Yes, sir; so e, and not very gently, nayther”

”Then the--” began Mark, but he did not finish ”That's it, sir

You've hit it The Yankee captain come back from up the river somewhere in his boat as quiet as you please, and the first I knowed on it was that it was dark as pitch as I leanedsoftly, when--_bang_, I got it on the head, and as I went down three or four of 'em climbed aboard 'What's that? You there, Fillot?' I heered in a dull sort o' way, and then the poor lufftenant went doith a groan, and same moment I hears a scrufflin'

forrard and aft, cracks o' the head, and falls Minute arter there was a row going on in the fo'c's'le I heered that plain, sir, and wanted to go and help un to spin like a top, and doent again, and lay listening to the row below There was soo awful My, he did swear for a , and I hears a voice say, 'Guess that's all

Show the light' Then there see about the deck with a lot o' legs, and I knowed that they were coh they was, sir, and they pitched all the bits of us overboard into a boat alongside; and I knoe hadn't half kept our watch, and the Yankee skipper had coroaned Mark ”And was that all?”

”No, sir; for I heered the skipper say, 'Anyone been in the cabin?' And when no one spoke he began to cuss 'eits, and they all went beloith the lanthorn, and co o' you My word, Mr Vandean, sir, how you ain

”Yes, and it is 'Oh, Toroaned the poor fellow ”My skull's cracked in three or four places sure as a gun”

”And the others Oh! the others Are they killed?”

”I dunno, sir I ain't--not quite Siot bats, and they hit us with 'es in the north country, or the cod-fish aboard the fishi+ng s like a fish's gills every time I moves my mouth”

”Are all the men here, Tom?”

”Yes, sir; I think so If they're not, it's 'cause they're dead”

”This is Mr Russell; I can feel his uniform,” whispered Mark; ”and he's dead--no, I can feel his heart beating Come here, Tom, and help me”

”I'll come, sir; but I can't help you, and it don't see this 'ere oar about Just as well let the tide send us along”

There was the sound of the oar being laid along the thwart, and then of soh overboard, sir Wish it warn't so dark Why, it's black What's that?”

There was a creaking sound from a little distance, and thesail, sir, and they'll creep out afore ht away”