The digging party landed, while others, still under the effect of the rum, proceeded to unload the booty from the boats. While the operation was in progress, Pengelly chalked the required information on the bulkhead of the dummy fo'c'sle—only the bearings he wrote down for the information of the crew differed materially from those he had noted in his pocket-book.
Then he went ashore to watch the progress of the work of burying the loot.
"Wot abaht these 'ere austridge feathers?" inquired one of the men, holding up a bunch for inspection.
"Share them out," replied Pengelly. "When we make port they'll fetch a tidy price. They won't keep here... Pile the earth up, men. It's bound to sink a bit. Look alive. It's not healthy to be hanging about ashore with this mist rising."
While the new captain was superintending operations on the river bank, Barnard, who with two men had been detailed to keep an eye on the deposed skipper, came across to where Cain was lying on deck under the bridge.
"I wouldn't that this happened for worlds, sir," he remarked to his former chief. "I couldn't warn you. They'd have let daylight into me if I had. And these two men—Davidge and Cross—they are proper jonnick. If we've the rope's end of a chance to get you out of this mess, sir, we'll do it."
Cain smiled grimly. The effects of the chloroform, never very heavy, had worn off, but the blow with the belaying-pin had weakened him considerably.
"I see they've looted the Bronx City," he remarked bitterly. "That's the limit as far as they are concerned. Look here, Barnard. Do you think you three can get me into a boat to-night and row down to the Bronx City? I'd give myself up if only to turn the tables on that doublefaced Pengelly."
The bo'sun shook his head.
"Can't be done, sir," he replied. "Ten to one Pengelly would search her, and where would we be then? 'Sides, I've no liking to run the risk of shoving my head through a noose when there's a chance of steering clear of it. Never fear, sir; the hands'll be wanting you back in command afore long. Pengelly, he's got no hold on them. 'Sides, he's no deep-sea navigator. He's all right in home waters, I'll allow, but here——-"