Stuart, indeed, became almost hilarious at sight of Blair as an invalid also.
"I was thinking ill of myself for getting hit," he said; "but since you're in the same boat I feel better."
"Glad to be of use," said Blair, "and very thankful things are no worse. They might have been. There were more of them than I expected, and they fought harder than their cause justified."
"Even rats will fight in a corner," said Evans.
Just before dark Captain Cathie came panting in on them, in the best of spirits and with many rough words for the road. He had half a dozen of his men with him, and they brought an ample supply of food.
"Well, captain, how have things gone with you?"
"We mustn't complain, sir. He'd brought a gun along as heavy as ours and we had a fine set-to. But with our steam we had the weather hand all the time and just waltzed round him. He did his best to board, but we thought differently."
"And how did it end? Where is he now?"
Captain Cathie jabbed his finger downwards two or three times in eloquent silence.
"Sunk?"