d
Chips, Johnson, and myself looked over our dead.

Jim lay where he fell. There was no sign of life, and Chips swore softly
at the villain's work, when we laid his head back upon the planks. Hans
breathed slightly, but he was going fast. We poured some spirits between
his lips, but he relaxed, and was lifeless in a few minutes. Phillippi
lay with his eyes staring up at the sky. His knife was still clutched in
his dark hand, and his teeth shone white beneath his black mustache. The
other sailor was dead, and while we looked for some sign of life, I heard
a smothered sob come from aft. We turned and saw a slender white form
bending over the body of Captain Sackett. The moon was rising in the
east, lighting the heavens and making a long silver wake over the calm
ocean. By its light I made out Miss Sackett, holding the head of her dead
father in her lap, and crying softly.

XVI

The moon rose higher, and Dalton came and went, carrying provisions
up from the cabin. These he lowered into our boat, which was hauled
alongside, Jenks taking a hand when necessary, although he never came
aft far enough to encounter any of our men. Andrews sat quietly on
the deck and had his cuts bound up and dressed, while Mr. Bell went
below to the medicine chest for whatever he wanted. We kept well
apart, each side feeling a distrust for the other, and neither caring
to provoke a conflict.

In about an hour Dalton announced the boat was ready.

"There's salt junk enough for all hands a week or two, and ship's bread
for a month. There's water in the breaker. You can go when you're ready,"
said Journegan.

I went aft to Miss Sackett, where she had sat motionless for a long time
with her face buried in her hands, as if to shut out the cruel sight
around her.

"We will leave the ship in a few minutes," said I, taking her by the
hand, and trying to raise her gently to her feet. "You must try to bear
up to go with us. Try to walk evenly and quickly when the time comes, for
there may be a struggle yet."

She let fall her hands from her face, and I saw her eyes, dry and bright
in the moonlight.

"Can't you kill them?" she asked quietly. "Oh, if I were only a man!"
Then she drew herself up to her full height, and gazed hard at the group
of ruffians at the mizzen.

"I'll have to go below first, and get my things," she said. "I suppose
you know what is best, to go or stay?"

"Hurry," I said. "I will wait here at the companion."

S