Part 89 (1/2)

”Yes, sir, we might,” replied the man, ”but there's lots more on 'em about, and we may be tumbling out o' the frying-pan into the fire.”

”Yes, Tom,” said the middy, ”and we are pretty well hidden. I propose that we lie here till those two poor fellows wake up. They may be better then and so far able to help us that they may get along with our arms.”

”Yes, sir,” said May quietly, ”and I'd stop at that. Besides, Mr Anderson's looking after us, and perhaps he knows the way back to that rondyvoo of his, for it must be somewheres not very far-off. Don't you think the first luff may be sending that black See-saw chap to look for us?”

”Yes, very likely, Tom. Capital!”

”Yes, sir; it don't seem so bad now we come to think of it. See-saw knows all about these parts, sir, and it would be a pity for him to come to find us, and walk into this patch of trees and find as we'd gone.”

”Yes, of course, Tom. Then you think that our wisest plan would be to lie here and wait for a few hours at all events and see what turns up?”

”That's it exactly, sir.”

”Then that's what we'll do, Tom.”

”Thankye, sir.”

”Why do you say that, Tom?”

”Oh, 'cause you said what we'd do.”

”Of course.”

”Yes, sir, but some young gents--Mr Roberts there, for instance--would ha' thought he knowed best and wouldn't have listened to a bit of advice. Pst! Don't you hear some un coming along, making the trees rustle and crackle a bit?”

Murray listened eagerly, before turning to the big sailor again.

”No. Your ears are better than mine, Tom.”

The middy had hardly ceased speaking before there was a heavy burst of coa.r.s.e laughter, and then several voices came from some little distance away, while as the listeners crouched together and drew their cutla.s.ses, after Tom May had raised the pan of his musket and closed it again, satisfied that the priming was correct, the pair gazed in each other's eyes, for Roberts started and turned uneasily, waking the wounded sailor, who began to talk aloud and incoherently about manning a boat and getting ash.o.r.e.

”What's to be done, Tom?” whispered Murray; and as he spoke he loosened the knot of his neckerchief and slipped it off, to hold it to the big sailor.

”Right, sir. Can't do better than that.” And taking the silk kerchief, Tom began to crawl close to where the man's voice was sinking to a low muttering, the poor fellow being perfectly unconscious of the fact that his messmate was leaning over him ready to use the silken tie as a gag and thrust it between his teeth if he went on talking and the enemy drew near.

Fortunately it seemed as if all the mutterings were about to die out, and though coa.r.s.e mirth was on the increase, and the party of searchers were drawing nearer, it appeared to Murray that the rough means of quieting the wounded man would not be called into service, when all at once, when the peril of being discovered was growing to be more grave, Roberts started as if from pain, and threw out his arms sharply, striking t.i.tely upon the side of the head.

It was not sufficient to cause pain, but the poor fellow's lips parted to cry out, and he gave forth an inarticulate sound caused by the sudden descent of the rolled-up pad of black silk vigorously planted in its place by the st.u.r.dy hand of Tom May.

The next minute there was a violent struggling to add to the gurgling noise, and in spite of the big sailor's efforts, the gagged one wrenched his head free from the pressure of the hand, and uttered a loud cry of annoyance and pain.

CHAPTER FORTY.

DEALING WITH THE WOUNDED.

”It's all over,” thought Murray, and he turned sharply from watching for the approach of the enemy, for the big sailor whispered--

”Don't get up, sir, till they close in; then make one jump for it and stand back to hit, but take distance and give me plenty of room for a good swing.”

The mids.h.i.+pman did not reply, but crouched down with his time divided between waiting for the enemy's approach and listening for the next utterance made by t.i.tely or his brother officer.