“What’s become of that fellow who brought me out?” I cried, turning to my companion.
The scoundrel laughed in my face.
“I sent word to him not to wait for you,” he coolly replied, “as I thought maybe you’d rather stay with us.”
“Rascal!” I shouted, taking him roughly by the arm. “What is the meaning of this villainy?”
“There’s the captain; you’d better ask him,” he answered.
And turning round as the sound of oars smote on my ears, I perceived a boat coming alongside, and seated upright in the stern the very man of all others whom I had never thought or wished to see again. It was my cousin Rupert.
He caught sight of me at the same moment, and a fierce scowl passed across his brow.
“Whom have you got there, Tim?” he called out, standing up in the boat to get a view of me.
“Mr. Ford, sir, purser’s assistant of his Majesty’s ship Talisman.”