THE UNSPEAKABLE GENTLEMAN
to them. They must think we are still there."
And then I knew what had happened. Brutus had dragged me with him, and we were in a cabin. I heard my father fumbling about in the dark.
"Ah," he said, "here is the powder. Load these pistols, Brutus. Gently, you fool! Do you want to kill me?"
"You are hurt, captain," cried Mademoiselle.
"It is not worth troubling over," said my father. "And you, my lady, you are quite all right? I fear I handled you roughly. I was afraid for a moment we might be inconvenienced."
"And now," I said sarcastically, speaking into the darkness before me, "I suppose our troubles are over."
"I think so," replied my father. "Now that Brutus has thrown Mr. Sims over board. It might be different if he were still with us. He seemed to be a determined and resourceful man. We are in the after cabin, Henry, quite the pleasantest one on the ship, and not ten paces from the wheel."
Still out of breath, still confused, I tried to look, but could see nothing. I could only smell the pungent odor of tarred rope and
[220]
