“Yes,” was the reply.
“And Miss Studwick?”
“I am here,” said Bessy, quietly. “Hester, give me your hand.”
It was pitch dark, and they dared not light a lamp for fear of making marks of themselves for those on deck, especially as, in reply to the captain breaking the cabin skylight, a couple of pistol shots were fired down, fortunately without effect.
Just then Captain Studwick spoke.
“I cannot understand this,” he said. “There must be some treachery somewhere, or we have been boarded in the night. It cannot be an Indian attack. Dutch Pugh, can Lauré have overtaken us?”
“Overtaken us! Poor children that we were to try to fight him with brains,” said Dutch bitterly; “he has never let us out of his sight.”
“What!” cried Mr Parkley.
“He has been on board from the first with half-a-dozen picked men.”
“And he was the mulatto?” cried Captain Studwick. “Curse the fellow! Then we are indeed undone.”