There was no answer.
“The lubbers are asleep,” he cried, angrily; and hurrying to where the men should have been, he found that they were missing, and ran to the hatchway. “Below there!” he shouted. “On deck here, some of yer!”
All silent, and he lowered himself down to find a lantern burning, but not a soul there even in the bunks, the men’s kits being also gone.
“Deserted, by jingo!” cried Oakum, slapping his thigh, as he began to ascend the ladder. “Here, ’Pollo, run and call the skipper.”
“What’s wrong?” cried Captain Studwick, from out of the darkness.
“Not a blessed man, sir, left aboard;” and the captain brought his foot down with a savage stamp upon deck.