y were so thick!

This was all I saw; then the light was knocked out, and I heard the
black wretch's naked feet pattering on the steps, as he went up swiftly
to the deck above, then a deep groan from the bunk of one of my old
messmates--it was one called Adams.

I was horribly cut about, and bleeding fast; but I managed to creep out,
and feel through the darkness. I came, just within a few feet, upon a
man's body, stretched out, lying on its face. Though it was dark as
pitch, I had no need to touch it twice to know that it was a dead body.
Then I got to Adams, and called him by name.

He answered faintly, "Yes!"

I asked him where the crew were, and whether he knew what had happened.

They were all killed, he thought, and the Lascars had got the vessel in
their hands.

We were doubtless supposed to be murdered, too. It must have all been
done very quickly. Adams had heard no sound from the deck above, and I
had heard none.

The crippled condition in which we were, and the darkness, rendered us
almost entirely helpless; but I managed somehow--partly on my feet,
partly on my hands and knees--to crawl up the ladder. The hatchway was
closed above me. We were prisoners.

I could from this place make out that a wild debauch was going on on the
after-deck, and I heard one of the scoundrels shrieking out a song, in a
wild, discordant voice. They had broken open the stores, and were
getting mad drunk with rum.

I crawled back to tell the news, and to think what could be done.

Adams was almost fainting from loss of blood. For myself, I was
scarcely good for anything--not for a struggle, that was certain. I
might defend myself for a time. I would try, anyhow. I could only die.

All at once we heard the hatchway opening stealthily.

"Whist!" said Jones's voice. "Who's alive down there?"

"Two!" I answered. "Adams and I--Tom Watson. We are both badly
wounded."

"Thank heaven you are not dead!" he said. "You can save yourselves, if
you've strength enough to lower yourselves into a boat. I've got it
down into the water. Will you try?"

We went at once, and gained the deck. Only one of the villains was on
the watch forward. We could see the dark figures of the rest sprawling
about in the semi-darkness far aft, and we went down on our hands and
knees, and crawled in the shadow to the side. But just as we reached
it, the moon came out from behind a cloud, and the man fired, and
shouted loudly.