They went silently along the corridor, the pirate collecting more men from the staterooms on either side. By the time they reached the companionway he was herding ahead of him quite a number of frightened prisoners.
"What are they going to do with us?" asked a fat man beside Norman.
They had reached the companionway.
"Up!" said their guard.
They mounted the stair, came out into the dining saloon.
A scene of wildest disorder burst upon Norman's shocked gaze. A throng of black clad pirates moved among the passengers who had been routed from all parts of the ship. The missing women, he saw, were huddled in a frightened group at the opposite end of the hall. They had been brought to the saloon in whatever state of undress the ray had caught them; in evening dress, scant undergarments, in gowns and shorts, and one frightened girl, clutching a large bath towel about herself.
The passengers of the captured ship had been brought to the saloon in whatever state of undress the ray had caught them.