Part 44 (1/2)

_Bang_ again--a pistol-shot fired up through the hatchway lid, and Toave a sharp start

”Ah! Hurt?” cried Mark, excitedly, as the sailor rolled over, while as quickly as possible more of the cable was piled up where he had lain

”Dunno yet, sir,” said Toive me an ahack on the ribs Don't look like a dead 'un, do I?”

”Don't say you're wounded, To to, sir,” replied thehis side ”No, I don't think I'e, and as if I should like to drop on to the chap as fired that shot I know: I have it The bullet ainst ht in me yet”

”Thank Heaven!” said Mark to hiht of how helpless he would have been without the frank young sailor as coht hand

By this ti chain, and, though a couple ainst the iron links

”Hah, that gives us breathing tiht'd be the best thing, sir,” said Dance; ”and then I should be able to see about--”

He stopped short, put his hand to his head, and looked around vacantly

”What was it I wanted to see about?”

”It's all right,him on the shoulder

”Eh? No, I won't, Toy soain, ain't I,to be like the lufftenant, eh?”

”Not you,” said To round,” he said ”Head's a bit soft, that's all; but I' on, Mark had turned to the black, whose shi+rt ith the blood which oozed from the score made in his shoulder by the bullet fired at him when first the atteht of a lantern, while theand ht of it the while

As Mark busied hi of how much demand there was made upon an officer in command, with the result that his respect for those over hiht of rest for the ht was devoted to keeping a careful watch, Mark pacing the deck and stopping to have a quiet consultation now and then with his mate

”I can't think where they obtained their arms, Tom,” he said on one occasion

”Oh, you needn't wonder at that, sir,” replied the lishot a pistol hid somewhere about him It ain't to be wondered at, sir,” continued thehand ”I never see a 'Merican yet with a good fist like that, and aabout in the world Well, sir, as you say I'm to be mate while we're on this expedition, p'r'aps you won'tto do next 'bout the prisoners Is it to be irons?”

”No,” said Mark, firmly ”I can't do that”

”Then if I were you, sir, I'd risk theain, and send 'e in one of the boats”

”On an uninhabited shore? Why, it would be like ive 'eh it ain't lively for a look-out to be cast ashore where there's only palht want to serve you out for captering their brothers and sisters for slaves”