It was but the hoist of a foot to get on board; and, behold! there was no one there to receive us! But we had no arms; and, picking up a hand-spike and handing it to the carpenter, I led the way down the little hatch, followed by the other eight men, with their closed fists for weapons.
Now if any two people were surprised it was the two Irish sailors who sat there eating with their knives from tin plates they held on their knees.
"SURRENDER!" I CRIED, POINTING THE TELESCOPE AT THEM.
"Surrender!" I cried, pointing the telescope at them as if I had but to touch a trigger to blow out their brains. Before they knew what had happened, or could raise their voices, two of the privateersmen had them pinioned by their wrists.
"Cut that cable; make all sail and get out of this!" I roared, pushing up again.
The jib and foresail went chock-a-block with one heave. Never did men leap to their work so quickly.
Now as it was but a stone's-throw to the shore, I ordered the two sailors overboard into the water, and gave them one of the empty casks to help them make it safely. They were glad of the chance to go.
The mainsail was up by this time, the rope hawser had been severed by the blow of an axe, and we were making out to sea. The crew, all on deck, burst into three hearty cheers, and I led them.
But if they were surprised, and truly they must have been, a greater surprise was in store for me, and I would that I could dwell on my sensations, which I shall but outline. I did not leave the deck to make any investigations of the little sloop until we had covered some five miles, and I had found out that she sailed like a witch, and that there was no sail after us.