They revived very soon after they were brought into the open air, and were able to receive each a revolver from Quambo's grip-sack. Then the return journey was at once commenced.
They reached the beach in safety, and half the party were at once rowed off to the vessel. Fred, Frank, and Quambo remained behind with two men—one being the Yankee skipper himself. This was the most anxious time of all for Fred and Frank, and the longest too, apparently.
Do what Fred would, he could not keep that Yankee skipper's tongue silent.
To be sure he talked in a kind of half whisper, but the night was so terribly still that even this could be heard a good long way off.
"What I'm terribly vexed about," was one of the skipper's remarks, "is that I didn't have it out wi' that rascal, King Ota."
"Hush, hush!" whispered Frank. "Not so loud please, captain."
"The skunk," he continued, "to truss us all up like fowls."
Fred lost his temper now. "Look here, sir," he said, "I'm in command here, and if you say another word I'll gag you—there!"
"I say, youngster," whispered the Yankee in a kind of wheedling tone, "gag me with a lump o' baccy. I'd give ten years of my sinful life for a chew."
In spite of the extreme danger they were in Fred could not keep from smiling.