"And did you not know that Captain Leach had been left behind when you quitted the Cassandra?"
"Why, no, sir," said I. "It was intended that he should go in the first passage of the long-boat with the boatswain."
"But did you not say that you helped the women aboard of the long-boat?"
"Yes, sir, I did," I said.
There was a pause of a moment or two, and all sat regarding me. Presently Mr. Elliott spoke again.
"And did you not then see that Captain Leach was absent from the boat?" said he.
"No, sir," said I, "I did not; the boat was very full, and the air so thick with gunpowder smoke that I could see little or nothing at any distance."
"But did you not then take care to see that all your passengers were safe aboard?"
"Why, no, sir," said I. "The order had been passed for all passengers to go aboard the long-boat, and I supposed that Captain Leach had obeyed with the rest. I was so occupied with the safety of the women just then that I thought of nothing else."
"You say that the pirate England told you that Captain Leach had been killed when they first came aboard the Cassandra. Did you take any other evidence in the matter than his word?"