“Yes; I can recollect it now,” said the lieutenant bitterly; and he relapsed into silence again, though he was listening to the conversation of the two middies all the same, as he proved before long.
“You may be right or you may be wrong,” said Murray, after a time. “I think you are wrong and haven’t told the difference between the shotted and the unshotted guns; but the firing has quite ceased now, and that means that the lugger has given up, and lowered her sails.”
“Maybe,” said Roberts, “but more likely after holding on so long she has had an unlucky shot and been sunk.”
“Lucky shot,” said Murray grimly.
“Ah, that depends upon which side you take. I believe that our lads have grown pretty savage, and sunk her.”
A low murmur of satisfaction arose from amongst the men who overheard the conversation, and then there was silence again, till the lieutenant suddenly spoke out.
“You’ve only provided for two alternatives, gentlemen,” he said.
“Do you mean about the lugger, sir?” asked Murray.
“Of course. You settled that she had lowered her sails or been sunk.”
“Yes, sir; there is no other way.”