Yass, sah."
The carpenter shot an angry glance at the cook, but no one else paid him
any attention.
A fire was flaming now on the distant shore. The seas rushed and gurgled
along the side of the ship. Our lights dipped with the rigging as the ship
rolled and tossed, now lifting her dripping sides high out of water, now
plunging them again deep into the trough.
"Mr. Cledd, I think we can spare those five men a boat," Roger said, after
a time.
"You're not going to let them go!" Mr. Cledd exclaimed.
"Yes."
Mr. Cledd raised his eyebrows, but silently acceded.
I thought that an expression of relief crossed Falk's face, yet dismay was
mingled with it. Those were dark, inhospitable lands to leeward. The
carpenter opened his mouth as if to speak, closed it without a word, and
vacantly stared at Roger. The rest of us exchanged glances of surprise.
When we had hove to, they lowered the boat, fumbling at the falls while
they did so, as if they were afraid to leave the ship. The seas caught the
boat and bumped it against the side, but Falk still lingered, even when
Roger indicated by a gesture that he was to go.
"Ay," he cried, "it's over the side and away. You're sending us to our
death, Mr.
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