Even such a small matter might count in the end, should pursuit be inaugurated when Wellington was rescued and managed to regain enough breath to splutter out the facts.
At any rate Roderic made a note of this point which was all the more singular because he had other fish to fry just then.
Fortunately no one attempted to stay his flight—fortunately for them perhaps, as well as his own success, for Roderic was just in the humor to handle any interference roughly.
What he had just passed through had the effect of arousing the lion that lay beneath the surface in his nature, and he was in a condition to do more than his share of battle.
Passing the groups of sailors hurrying to the rail, he crossed the deck to where he believed Beven awaited him, for a glimpse of one or more figures in this quarter announced that it was not deserted.
To his surprise he saw two men.
Captain Beven had company, and Roderic at first glance guessed the identity of that tall figure.
It was Don Porfidio.
He had walked with the captain to where his yawl awaited, instead of proceeding to the quarter deck; and now he was also able to resist the temptation to rush across to the other rail in order to gratify his natural curiosity.
It meant something.