Only two persons remained behind.
"Pietro," said one of them to the other, "are you anxious to swallow water?"
"Corpo di Dio, no!"
"How do you expect to save yourself?"
"Oh, there is still a remedy!"
The men exchanged knowing looks, and then one of them whispered:
"Be careful; do not let the captain hear of it; he might hinder us."
"He would be foolish enough to do so. We are heading straight for Elba, on the rocks of which we will be hopelessly dashed, if we do not take our steps beforehand. Let me attend to it as soon as she lies in the water."
As he said this, he looked toward the stranger, who was still lying motionless on the deck.