He took a step towards the door, when the corporal said, “Beg pardon, sir; better back out.”
“Eh? oh, nonsense!” said the lieutenant, without changing his position, while I, though I began to feel impressed with the glaring eyes, and to feel that the sooner we were out of the place the pleasanter it would be, thought that it would be rather undignified on the part of officers to show the wretches that we were afraid of them.
Just then Mr Reardon glanced sidewise to where one of the men on our left crouched near the door, and said quickly—
“The surgeon saw all these men this morning?”
“Yes, sir,” said the corporal, “not half an hour ago.”
“He must be fetched to that man. The poor wretch is ready to faint.”
“Yes, sir; he shall be fetched.”
Mr Reardon bent down to look at the prisoner more closely.
“Hold the lantern nearer,” he said.
The corporal lowered the light, which shone on the pirate’s glassy eyes, and there was a fixed look in his savage features which was very horrible.