And the horror depicted on her face, as
well as the stains of blood on her abductor, told with what ruthless
violence. Here then, I thought, in all human probability, was the royal
maiden I had summoned; here was the wildest vagary of my imagination
realized. But how different from the bright fancy was the woful
reality!
Soon the captain returned on deck, pale and excited like the rest of
us, and ordered a rash amount of sail to be set. The mate, a bluff,
powerful man, swore an oath that we should first understand the meaning
of what had just transpired.
"I know no more about it than you do," avowed the captain, "except that
it's a piece of business very likely to bring all our heads to the block
unless we show a clean pair of heels for it. So now avast jawing, and
obey orders!"
"Never! boys," I said, "till we are assured of that girl's safety.
What's done cannot be helped; but if she suffers further wrong in our
midst, we ought all to be hanged as cowardly accessories to it."
"Dismiss your uneasiness in that regard," said a voice behind us, at
whose sound there was a general start.
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