“’Strue as true, sir. We was all half dozing in the boat when we heared a shot, and saw a prau alongside of the old Chicken, and another running up fast, and then there were more firing went on.”
“And we ashore!” muttered the mate. “Keep on, my men. What next?”
“Don’t know, sir,” panted the spokesman; “we come on after you, sir.”
“And left the boat?”
“She’s got the grapnel out, sir, on the sands.”
“But the men in the prau—they could see her.”
“Oh, yes, sir; they could see her, sir.”
“Man, man! what have you done? They will fetch her off and we shall be unable to follow.”
“Don’t blame the man, Gregory, but keep on. We may be in time to save her. Let me go first, I can run.”
Mr Morgan sprang to the front, and with his gun at the trail ran on ahead at a pace that seemed marvellous; but Mark followed as rapidly as he could, Mr Gregory next, then the major, and the men in single file.