While they were talking the sailors were busy splicing the shrouds. When this was done two of the men swarmed up the mast by means of the halliards. Then they hoisted up the shrouds, and fastened them round the mast, making all taut by means of the lanyards. The sails were still standing, flapping loosely in the light breeze, so the sheets were hauled in and the vessel again began to move through the water. Two days later they anchored in Valetta harbour.
“Here goes,” Forster said, as he stepped into the boat with his report. “It all depends now on what sort of a man the admiral is, but I should not be surprised if he ordered me to take court-martial.”
“Oh, I hope not!” Will exclaimed. “I do wish you would let me go with you to share the blame.”
“It cannot be thought of,” Forster said; “the commanding officer must make the report.”
Two hours later Forster returned.
“It is all right, Gilmore,” he said as the boat came alongside. “Of course I got a wigging. The admiral read the report and then looked at me as fierce as a tiger.
“ ‘How was it that no sentry was placed over the prisoners?’
“ ‘I have to admit, sir,’ I said, ‘that I entirely overlooked [pg 91]that. I am quite conscious that my conduct was indefensible, but I have certainly paid very heavily for it.’
“ ‘It was a smart trick taking to the shrouds,’ the admiral said, ‘though one would have thought they would have shot you at once after you had cut them.’
“ ‘That is what I expected, sir,’ said I, ‘but they seemed to think it was a very good joke, my being a prisoner up there, and preferred to wait till I was driven down by thirst.’