Trunnell held the dollar bill he had unfurled from the note in his hand and dropped the note back into the trunk.
"'Tis screwed fast wid nine big bolts to th' deck," said Chips, who had examined the outfit carefully.
Trunnell scratched his bushy head thoughtfully for a moment longer. "Is there any sech thing as a few men aboard this ship?" he asked.
I said I thought there was.
"Then man the boat and row, for the love o' God!" he roared, springing up the companionway to the deck, leaving us to follow after him.
XXIV
When we reached the deck and looked after the brig, we found that we had spent more time below than at first imagined. The Shark was hull down to the southward and evidently going along steadily at a three-knot rate. The sun was almost on the horizon, and if we started after her, the chances were that night would fall long before we could lessen the distance between us materially. Sober appreciation of the affair took the place of Trunnell's impetuosity.
"We'll niver see him agin," said Chips, hauling heavily on the boat tackles.
"There's no use, Trunnell," I cried; "we can't catch that brig in a whale-boat."
He was already hesitating, and stood scratching his shaggy beard.