“Well,” replied I, “I believe that the boy has told the truth.”
“And what do you mean to do?”
“Remain below quietly, if I am allowed,” replied I.
“But I cannot,” said he; “they would throw me overboard.”
“Make as bad a fight of it as you can,” replied I.
“That I will,” said Captain Toplift, “and with so superior a force opposed, we cannot stand long. But I must tell you where you must be.”
“Where?” replied I.
“At the entrance of the magazine, for as sure as we stand here they will blow up the vessel rather than be taken. Not all of them, but two or three I know are determined so to do, and resolute enough to do it. My pistols are there. You have only to open this door, and you are in the magazine passage. See,” said he, opening the door, “there is the scuttle where they hand the powder up.”
“I will be on the watch, depend upon it; and, Captain Toplift, if the schooner is taken, and I am alive, you may have no fear for yourself.”
“Now let us go on deck again.”