Having made fast the second line, Ranworth hurried below to acquaint Leslie and Guy with the news of the fatality.
"Do not say a word about the insubordination of those poor fellows," he warned them. "It will do no good. We are not here to condemn our fellow-creatures."
He could say no more. The suddenness of the calamity had temporarily unnerved him.
By this time, Leslie had nearly recovered from the effects of the Bird of Freedom's attempt to turn turtle, but on the back of his head a lump the size of a pigeon's egg had already appeared, while his left hand was grazed from wrist to elbow.
"What luck, sir?" asked Captain Stormleigh, as Ranworth came over the side. "I fear our efforts have met with failure."
"Your efforts?" inquired Ranworth. "Why, Captain, you must have done splendidly, fetching Desolation Creek in this time. How did you manage it?"
It was Captain Stormleigh's turn to look perplexed.
"We stuck hard at it, sir," he replied. "But how did you fare over there?"
And he pointed in the direction of Observation Camp, where Claude Ranworth's expedition was supposed to be awaiting relief.
"Now, what do you mean, Captain?" demanded Ranworth. "Are you dreaming, or am I? We haven't been there yet; we've only just arrived at Desolation Inlet. If you——"