"They are coming to attack us, sir," said Coble, who had been left in charge of the cutter when Mr Vanslyperken went on shore.
Mr Vanslyperken turned pale as a sheet; his eyes were fixed upon the form of Ramsay, standing up on the stern-sheets of the first boat, with his sabre raised in the air--he immediately recognised him, panted for breath, and could make no reply.
The crew of the cutter, weakened as they were by the loss of most of their best men, flew to their arms; Coble, Cornelius, and Jansen, and Corporal Van Spitter were to be seen in the advance, encouraging them.
"Gott for dam--let us have one slap for it," cried Jansen.
"Mein Gott, yes," shouted the corporal.
Vanslyperken started up. "It's no use, my men--it's madness--useless sacrifice of life; they are two to one--we must surrender. Go down below, all of you--do you hear, obey my orders?"
"Yes, and report them, too, to the admiral," replied Coble; "I never heard such an order given in my born days, and fifty odd years I have served in the king's fleet."
"Corporal Van Spitter, I order you below--all of you below," cried Vanslyperken; "I command here--will you obey, sir?"
"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal, walking away, and coolly descending the ladder.
The boats were now within ten yards of the cutter, and the men stood irresolute; the corporal obeying orders had disheartened them: some of them followed the corporal.