“And Mr Brymer?”
“Yonder. Don’t ask.”
“Is any one else hurt?” I said, lowering my voice still more.
“I hardly know how many,” he said. “It was a surprise. We were all mastered by treachery. Some traitor came amongst us, and when the attack began and the ship was seized, we were all fastened in our cabins.”
“Some traitor!” I said, turning cold. “Yes, and they thought it must have been you. I heard some one accuse you in the dark, just after I had broken out of my cabin.”
I was silent for a few moments, as I thought of whom the traitor must have been, though even to defend myself I could not speak out and accuse Walters.
“Who was it said I did it?” I whispered at last.
“I am not sure. Everything has been so dark and confused; I fancied for the moment that it was Mr Denning.”
“I don’t believe it was,” I said stoutly. “He would not think I could be such a miserable, contemptible wretch.”
“But you were not with us, Dale, and people are ready enough to accuse at a time like that.”