Suddenly came the answer, from behind his back apparently.
“Ahoy there . . . who are you?”
“ ’Scaped English prisoner! English prisoner escaped!”
There was a pause; then, “Keep off there . . . none of your tricks.”
“No tricks . . . I am alone . . . alone,” Ortho bawled, pulling furiously. He could hear the vessel plainly now, the creak of her tackle as she felt the breeze.
“Keep off there, or I’ll blow you to bits.”
“If you fire a gun you’ll call the whole town out,” Ortho warned.
“What town?”
“Sallee.”
“Christ!” the voice ejaculated and repeated his words. “He says we’re off Sallee, sir.”