“That’s old fatty, sure enough,” said Oakum, “and he’s a-crying. But what’s come of ’Pollo?”
There was no answer to this, and Sam was heard to bring his hand down on his leg with a vigorous slap.
“I remember now,” he exclaimed. “They brought him down on the deck when they went at me, but it was all knocked out of my head. Poor old ’Pollo! Poor old chap! I liked his honest old black physog somehow, if it wouldn’t wash white. If he’s killed,” he muttered sternly between his teeth, “someone’s got to answer for it afore long.”
The hours dragged on, and then it seemed as if the darkness had suddenly grown less opaque; then one haggard face and then another could be dimly made out, and at last, as if with a rush, up came the sun, and the saloon was flooded with light reflected through the windows off the glorious dancing water; and the prisoners began to look from one to the other, and always at haggard anxious faces.
Dutch, finding that all was still outside, walked softly to the little cabin where Bessy Studwick and his wife had been placed for safety; and as the door was open he could see that Hester was sleeping peacefully with her head resting on her friend’s lap, while pale and anxious looking, Bessy held only her hands, and sat up watchful as she had been all night.
Dutch stole in, and bending down kissed his wife’s forehead tenderly, making her start slightly and utter a low sigh, but a happy smile came upon her lip directly, and the sunshine which flooded the little cabin lit up her thin, worn face, giving it so sweet and pure an air that Dutch groaned to himself as he thought of the past, and then stole away, but with a load taken from his breast, as he thought of the revelation he had heard from the doctor, and his heart leaped with joy as he thought of how in the future he would try to wipe away the misery he had inflicted upon the suffering woman.
He was brought back to the present, though, directly by finding a kind of conference going on amongst his friends as to the future, and their proceedings to defend themselves and retake the ship.
The meagreness of the resources was now seen at a glance, for though a portion of the party was pretty well-armed, the others were helpless.
The captain made a full inspection of his cabin to find that every weapon had been carefully removed; and, to make matters worse, not an article likely to be used as a means of defence had been left behind.
At least this was the first impression, but the doctor suddenly remarked that he had a stick in his cabin, and running in he returned with it, and handed his keen long diver’s knife to Oakum.