The leader lost no time in acquainting his prisoners with the fate in store for them.
Coming toward the hatch with unsteady movements, which told only too well how his time had been occupied, he first ordered that the gags should be removed, and then said to Captain Mansfield:
“I ’low it seems kinder rough for us to turn you out, but that’s what we’ve decided to do, an’ there’s no use in kickin’ up rusty about it.”
“Do you mean that we’re to be set adrift after doing all we could to relieve your distress?” the captain asked, huskily, for the gag had been in his mouth so long that it was difficult to speak with sufficient distinctness to make himself understood.
“That’s about the size of it,” the man replied, with a drunken leer. “There’s jest a chance we might get into trouble at Nassau, because the Mary and Jane was lost——”
“Then you are responsible for the destruction of that craft, eh?”
“Hold your tongue, or you may be askin’ questions that’ll get you into trouble, for my mates won’t stand any nonsense.”
“Then cut your own talk short. You have committed a deed which will eventually bring you to the gallows, and there is no reason why there should be any delay in finishing the job like the pirates that you are,” Captain Mansfield said, impatiently.
“That’s exactly what we’re goin’ to do. Search the crowd for fear they may have revolvers with them,” the man said, with an assumption of authority, which would have been comical under less desperate circumstances.
But few moments were required in order to execute this command, and when the work was concluded the helpless men had been robbed of everything valuable upon their persons.