“Got a rope?” came from below; and my answer was to lower it down as quickly as I could before passing it twice round the legs of the fixed table.
Then came a sharp whisper—
“All fast?”
“Yes; all right,” I said; and the next moment Bob Hampton was climbing in.
“Sent me to help you, my lad. Hooroar! the ship’s our own again.”
In another minute Barney was up alongside, and he was followed by Mr Frewen and Mr Brymer. These all seized guns.
“They’re not loaded,” I said sadly.
“Never mind, my lad; appearances go a long way,” said Mr Brymer. “The scoundrels will not know. Now then, pick up something for a weapon, Dale, if it’s only the cabin poker.”
“Are you going to fight?” I said in a low tone. “I thought you were going to help that poor wretch.”
“I can attend him as well when he is our prisoner, Dale, as if we were Jarette’s.”