The doctor walked away, and the sailor chuckled.
“It’s all right, Mr Dale, I won’t do what the doctor don’t want. Ketch me getting rid of a leg like a lobster does his claw. But I say, sir; I did think, you know, just then, as I might have a hankychy round my neck and hang my leg in it.”
I was called aft soon after, and I saw Dumlow go forward, disappearing amongst the steam, while I went to Mr Frewen and helped him while he dressed Walters’ wound, and was with him afterwards when he went to the captain and Mr Denning, both of whom were certainly easier now.
We had a light in the saloon too, for I had managed to trim the lamp, and Mr Brymer had been busy hunting out ammunition for the guns. This he had found in the forecastle lying in one of the upper bunks, and with it a couple of revolvers, so that once more we were fairly armed. Then it was decided that the boat should be hooked on to the falls, and an attempt made to raise her, but Bob Hampton shook his head.
“Don’t think we can manage her, sir, to-night. To-morrow perhaps I might rig up tackle, and we could get her on deck. She’s too big for them davits. But why not let her hang on behind, as the weather’s fine?”
“And suppose those scoundrels return, sir, what then?” cried Mr Brymer.
Bob Hampton scratched his head.
“Ah, you may well say what then, sir,” he grumbled. “I hadn’t thought o’ that. Don’t think they will come, do you?”
“It is possible. They left in a scare, but if they see the ship still floating they may come back.”
“Then we’d better get a couple o’ pigs o’ ballast ready to heave over, and knock holes in the bottom in case they do come, for we can’t get her hysted to-night.”