But they gave us no chance
and the load is in it yet. Give me an oar. Pull now--for your life!
Lucky it is they don't know much about sighting a gun."
Suiting his action to his words the mate literally forced the lad to
obey. Other cries sounded, and Ralph caught a glimpse of two or three
scrambling on board again by the aid of a rope that happened to hang
over the side.
His strength was nearly gone, and only an intense resolution kept him
to his task at the oar. Duff, behind Ralph, also pulled away, though
the strain caused him to groan now and then.
"Are you hurt?" asked the boy as they drew rapidly away from the now
dreaded ship.
"Leg broke. Shot below the knee. Hist! They are going to try it now."
A large negro was hastening from the cook's galley with a flaming
brand. The instant of suspense that followed was awful. A bright
flash followed, and as the accompanying roar met their ears a harsh
spattering and hissing beyond relieved their anxiety immensely.
Not a thing touched the boat or its occupants.
"Overshot--by thunder!" cried Duff with an exulting whoop, that ended
in a groan of pain. "We are all right now; the beggars can never
reload. They don't know how, and be hanged to 'em!"
After that, while resting, Ralph briefly related his own adventures,
though touching lightly upon his suffering for food and the pain of his
wound.
"You've had a time of it, sure," replied Duff. "Yet it was lucky for
you and me both that you parted company with us as you did.
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