“I was going to send for you, my lad,” he said. “Captain Lawrence must be away, and we shall have to trap the scoundrels ourselves. How many men can we muster?”
“Ten, sir.”
“Not half enough,” said the Captain; “but they are strong, staunch fellows, and we have right on our side. Ten against twenty or thirty. Long odds; but we’ve gone against heavier odds than that in our time, Solly.”
“Ay, sir, that we have.”
“We must lie in wait and take them by surprise when they’re scattered, my lads. But what luck! what luck! Now if Lawrence had only kept faith with me we could have trapped the whole gang.”
“Well, your honour, why not?” said Solly sharply.
“Why not?”
“He’ll be here before we want him.”
“What?” cried Nic. “Is the frigate in sight?”
“In sight, sir—and was when you left the signal station.”