But we had been so excited and taken up by this work that we had not seen what was going on seaward, where a gun was fired for our recall.
“Where’s the next of them?” said Mr Grey.
I did not answer, as I stood up looking round to see a few fragments of wreck floating here and there, but there was not another pirate left to save.
Chapter Twelve.
Repairing Damages.
For some moments I could not believe it true, and I stood on the thwart and gazed carefully round, scanning every fragment of the wreck in the expectation of seeing some trick to deceive us—men lying flat with only their faces above the surface of the water, and holding on by sweep or bamboo with one hand. But in a very short time we were all certain that not a living being was near; of the dead there were several, as we found on rowing here and there. One, as he was turned over, seemed to be perfectly uninjured, but the others displayed ghastly wounds in face, neck, and breast, showing how horribly fierce had been the encounter in which they had been engaged.
Satisfied at last that our task was at an end, the word was given, and the men began to row back to the Teaser, which still lay so transformed in appearance, as seen from a distance, that I was thinking that it was no wonder that the pirates had been deceived, when one of the men, forgetful of all the horrors through which we had passed, of his wounded comrade, and the dangerous prisoners under his feet, burst out into a merry fit of laughter.
“Say, lads,” he cried, “we shall have a nice job to-morrow, to wash the old girl’s face.”