Joe Basalt and his comrade Jack Tiller passed the word forward from mouth to mouth.
They told their shipmates what had taken place, and so thoroughly incensed them against him that his life would not have been worth five minutes' purchase had Harkaway, Jefferson, and Dick Harvey absented themselves.
"Come," said Jefferson, "it is growing late; let us settle it off-hand."
"What is the verdict?" said Harvey, "Let the men decide."
Their decision did not take long at arriving at. As if with a single voice, the men responded—
"Death!"
A sickening sensation stole over Hunston.
There was enough in that to appal the stoutest heart, it is true, and he now felt that it was all over.
"Very good," said Harkaway, "His fate is with you."
"String him up to the yardarm at once, then," suggested Sam Mason.