"The Acasta, thirty-six, and the Juno, twenty-two, sir."
"Very good; is the transport Mellish among them?"
The man made no reply.
"Answer me."
"Ye—yes, sir."
"Which is she?"
"Oh, sir, I can't tell you that, sir; she is the most valuable ship of them all," he said incautiously.
"You have got to tell me, my man, if you ever want to see daylight again; which is she?"
"No, sir, I can't tell you," he replied obstinately.
"Put the muzzle of your pistol to his forehead, Williams, and if he does not answer by the time I count ten, pull the trigger. One, two, three, four—"