Tears started to the lawyer's eyes, and he wrung the young doctor's readily-proffered hand.
"And I, too, Mr. Basset, feel for you and your two dear girls—though perhaps this business may be all talk and sogering; yet I confess it don't look like it," said the captain. "Thank Heaven I am a bachelor, and have no one depending upon me but the son of my poor brother Bill, that was drowned in the Straits of Sunda, and my life is insured on his account, so that is all right; but these young ladies——"
Phillips paused, for Mr. Basset, who was reclining on the cabin locker, covered his face with his hands, and groaned aloud.
"We have no time to lose in preparing to meet these rascals," said Dr. Heriot, with growing confidence. "We must see what arms we can muster, and endeavour to use them too. D—n it, Captain Phillips, we must show fight in some fashion, and not all walk the plank without making some of them walk it also. I have a pair of good rifled pistols."
"And I have two six-barrelled revolvers and a fowling-piece," added the captain.
"Sixteen shots," said Hawkshaw, brightening a little. "We can barricade the cabin, and defend it with these against them."
"We are seven, including myself," said Phillips.
"Seven?" said Mr. Basset, looking up.
"Yes, sir; there are the two mates, the doctor, yourself, and I, Captain Hawkshaw, and Joe the steward."
"But they are eighteen in number, and armed too."