Bang.
“Load again!” cried the captain. “Now, you scoundrels, come back or you shall have a volley.”
A strange noise came off the sea.
“Hark! What’s that?” cried the captain. “A cry for help!”
“No, sir.”
“What was it, then?”
“Beg pardon, sir; but I think it was one on ’em a-larfin’.”
The captain gave the speaker—one of the warrant officers—a furious look.
“Now, then, is that boat going to be all night?” he shouted.
“All ready, sir. Lower away.”