“Do you hear?” cried Mr Denning, from the cabin-light. “Save yourself; the wretch will sink the boat.”
“I cannot go and leave you and your sister in this man’s power.”
“It is madness to stay. You have done all that is possible. Captain Berriman, order your men to row you out of danger.”
“I am not in command,” said the captain feebly.
“Mr Brymer, then,” cried Mr Denning. “Quick, they are dragging up something else to throw over.”
“I should not be a man, sir, if I ordered the men in cold blood to leave you and your sister,” said Mr Brymer huskily.
“But you are risking other lives. Mr Frewen,” cried the young man, “I wish it; my sister wishes it. You must—you shall go.”
Mr Frewen uttered a strange kind of laugh.
“If I told the men to row away, sir, I do not believe they would go,” he replied. “Answer for yourselves, my lads; would you go?”
“’Bout two foot farder,” growled Bob, “so as they couldn’t hit us; that’s ’bout all.”