"You wish to see me!" began Mr. Basset, in faltering accents, for this mode of reception, and its tone, by no means reassured him.
"To see you—yes," said Pedro, while a spasm of agony convulsed his tawny visage; "Badger, overhaul and lash him fast!" he suddenly exclaimed.
On hearing this alarming order, the meaning of which he imperfectly understood, Mr. Basset was about to rush away; but the powerful hand of the gigantic Yankee was inserted in his collar, and others were busy about his person: thus he was speedily deprived of his watch, rings, and the revolver, the appearance of which excited a shout of derisive laughter.
Then, almost before he knew where he was, Bolter, the Canadian, had tied his wrists together with a piece of cord.
"Now, stranger, yew air fixed proper, I reckon—you air," snivelled the Yankee, with a broad grin; "Jeerusalem! yew air in an almighty fright!"
"He shall be yet in a greater," said Pedro, in a husky voice; "where is the line from the yard-arm?"
"Here," said Zuares, as a rope was suddenly cast over Mr. Basset's head, and looped round his neck—a rope which, while his blood ran cold, he saw came down from a block at the yard-arm.
"Lash another line to him for a down-haul," said Pedro.
And Badger did so instantly, by looping a rope round Mr. Basset's ankles.
"My God! my God!—my good men," he said, in trembling accents; "you do not—you, you cannot——"