"My God! don't leave me here," cried the Resurrection Man, his voice losing its thickness and assuming the piercing tone of despair.
"Every man for himself, it seems," returned Swot, whom the panic had now robbed of all his courage; and in another moment he also had disappeared.
"The cowards—the villains!" said Tidkins, clenching his fists with rage.
Then, by an extraordinary and almost superhuman effort, he raised himself upon his legs: but they seemed to bend under him.
He, however managed to climb upon the packages of goods; and, aided by the rope, lifted himself up to the hatchway. But the effort was too great for his failing strength: his hands could not retain a firm grasp of the cord; and he fell violently to the bottom of the hold, rolling over the bales of merchandize in his descent.
"It's all over!" he mattered to himself; and then he became rapidly insensible.
Meantime the Lully Prig, who was mounting sentry upon the surgeon in the after cabin, was suddenly alarmed by hearing the trampling of hasty steps over head. He rushed on deck, and demanded the cause of this abrupt movement.
"The plague!" cried the Buffer, as he leapt over the ship's quarter into the boat.
The Lully Prig precipitated himself after his comrade; and the other two pirates immediately followed.
"But we are only four!" said the Lully Prig, as the boat was pushed away from the vessel.