On board the ship, as a matter of course.
Therefore, so I argued to myself quickly, if there had been an escape, it must have occurred after Mr. Fernald searched the ship on the evening previous, when was heard that strange voice, and yet the door of the brig was securely fastened, while two men had, supposedly, kept watch all night.
Now it came to me that I might be mistaken, although that was hardly probable, and beckoning to Simon to come aft with me to such a distance from the prisoners that the words could not be overheard, I asked him the question:
“How many prisoners did we take from the James and Charlotte?”
“Twelve all told,” he replied. “Eleven came down here, and the captain went into the cabin.”
“How many came to us from the Benjamin?”
“Eight, and they are all here.”
“That should make nineteen,” I repeated half to myself.
“Ay, of course it does. What have you in your head now?”
“Go and count the Britishers.”