“Then you only tickled the buck,” said Panton, laughing. “Why, at fifty yards that shot wouldn’t go through the skin.”
“Humph!” said the mate, “so much the better for the buck. What a pity, though; there goes a delicious dinner of good fresh venison.”
“Never mind, you may get another chance.”
“I don’t know. If this is an island, there are not likely to be a great many, and once they are shot at they will become shy. See anything, my lad?” he cried to the man in the sheltered top.
“No, sir, not a sign o’ nothing,” replied the sailor.
“Keep a sharp look-out.”
“Ay, ay, sir.”
The mate turned to the wounded passengers.
“These fellows generally have an idea that their officer is as blind as a mole, and that they are as cunning as the cleverest man who was ever born. Now that fellow thinks I don’t know he was asleep at his post.”
“Was he?” said Oliver, rather anxiously.