"Ay, by the rocks."
"No, no! A poor fellow who witnessed the act was shot by the hand that cut the rope; but he lived long enough to tell my mother the truth."
"Or a parcel of lies."
"Dying men don't lie, cap'n! I was born that same night. Years afterwards, when I was old enough to understand—when my mother was on her deathbed—she told me the story; and my last word to her was a promise to hunt down my father's murderer."
"And you have failed!" cried the captain.
"Let go the anchor!" cried the pilot. "See, cap'n, I'll bring her head up into the wind, and she'll ride with her sails set. Off with the hatches, my lads!"
A bright light flashed three times from left to right. The pilot took the lantern and waved responsive signals.
"All's well!" cried he. "Cap'n, you will see to the getting up of the goods."
Taken off his guard, the captain stepped to the hatchway, gave a few orders, and seemed to recollect something. But the binnacle light was out, and the pilot had disappeared! The captain caught at the rope by which his boat had been towing astern. It came in without resistance; it had been cut!
"We are betrayed!" cried the captain. "Hark! Friends or foes!" as a number of boats came quickly alongside.