CHAPTER XI
"Fully committed," muttered Denman, as he drew back from the deadlight. "They'll stop at nothing now."
He was about to open his door to visit Florrie, if she had descended, when it was opened from without by Billings, who had brought his breakfast.
"We'll have better grub for a while, sir," he said, as he deposited the tray on the desk. "Suppose you know what happened?"
"Yes, and I see life imprisonment for all of you, unless you are killed in the catching."
"Can't help it, sir," answered Billings, with a deprecatory grin. "We're not going back to jail, nor will we starve on the high seas. All we're waiting for is the course to the African coast—unless—" He paused.
"Unless what?" demanded Denman, leaning over his breakfast.
"Well—unless the vote is to stay at sea. We've got a good, fast boat under us."
"What do you mean? Continued piracy?"
"I can't tell you any more, sir," answered Billings, and he went off, after carefully locking the door behind him.