“All the men are secured,” said I.
She clapped her hands and cried, “You have been very quick,” and then laughed with hysteric vehemence; and, no doubt, to satisfy me that she was composed, she at the same moment got up from her chair, and said, “What is next to be done?”
“Follow me,” said I.
I went on deck, and pointing the glass at the landing-place, took a long look. The fellows had hauled the boat high and dry; I could not see what sort of a beach it was; the boat lay beyond the thin line of feathering surf. There were figures about her in motion. I counted all the men who had gone in her. The telescope was poor—poor even for that age of marine spy-glasses—and I was unable to distinguish clearly. But the boat was high and dry, and the men were out of her and busy with their cargo; that was certain; so I put down the glass, and, going to the wheel, called to the señorita to come to me.
“Hold it thus,” said I.
She at once stationed herself in Jimmy’s place and grasped the spokes. Then, followed by the lad, I ran to the cabin, and, together, out of the locker we brought up three rounds for the long brass pivoted twenty-four pounder. We likewise loaded with all possible speed six muskets, which, with the remaining pistols that lay in the locker, we conveyed on deck. When this was done, I charged the long gun, taking care to see that all was ready for quickly reloading.
“Now, Jimmy,” said I, “it is time to swing the main topsail yard and be off.”
The wind hung in the north; it was a little pleasant breeze, with just enough of weight to tremble the water into a darker dye of blue with the summer rippling and wrinkling of it, and to put a dance into the blinding sparkles under the sun. I went forward with the lad, and first we hoisted the standing-jib; then went to the main braces and, the wind being very light, we swung the yards easily. The topgallant sails had been clewed up on the previous day, and had hung by their gear unstowed all night. Both yards were heavy, for the Black Watch was very square in her rig; so to masthead the canvas we led the halliards to the little capstan on the quarter-deck, and set the sails with fairly taut leeches. A couple of staysails we also ran aloft, by which time the brig had wore. We then trimmed for the northerly draught, and in less than twenty minutes from the start of the operations the brig was standing eastward, and slowly gathering way, with Jimmy at the wheel, holding the little ship steady to my directions, myself near him, glass in hand, watching the men ashore, and the girl at my side.
I had reckoned on this—that, when the men saw me fill on the brig they’d suppose something to make me uneasy had hove into sight, or that I was maneuvering to take up a new position. I guessed they’d never imagine for a long while that I was running away with the brig. I had taken particular care for weeks past that they should observe nothing in me to excite distrust. And then there were Teach and the others; and I counted upon Bol’s and upon Bol’s mates’ confidence in the loyalty of those shipmates. So they’d watch us for some time without suspicion; and every minute was precious, because every minute the distance widened and the pace briskened.
Thus had my calculations forerun, and now I stood with the telescope at my eye, watching and waiting.