Cardyke was by his friend's side in an instant.
"All right, old man," exclaimed the sub., feebly. "Leave me alone. I'm done for, I fear."
"Don't say that, Fielding."
"It doesn't very much matter now; we've retaken the ship. You're in command now, Cardyke, so cut off and see that the hatchways are secured. Keep the stokers down below, and make them work. Don't wait, time's precious."
With a groan Fielding became unconscious.
The midshipman was torn by the call of duty to his companions and devotion to his brother officer; but duty came first.
As soon as the pirate seamen were secured under hatches Cardyke posted a strong guard over the engine-room and stokehold ladders. This done, the mid. led another party to the fore-bridge, fully anticipating resistance from the officer of the watch and his subordinates. But Tito, who happened to be on the bridge at the time of the attack, seeing things were faring badly, promptly jumped overboard to avoid an ignominious fate. The quartermasters bolted up the tripod mast, and sought refuge in the fire-control platform. Here, had they been armed, they might have been a source of danger, but being without weapons they kept quiet until hunger compelled them to give themselves up.