way, without waiting for the others
she was to have carried.

I was irresolute how to act. I could not myself prevent them.
Remonstrance from me would have been laughed at, and I had not the
strength to stay them. To call out would have been of no use. The
sound of the fire roaring and crackling below, the hoarse shouting of
the men themselves, the yells and vociferations of the slaves forward,
produced a medley of noises amidst which my cries would not have been
heard, or, at all events, their object would not have been understood.

Another thing--it was too late to create any noise about it; for before
I could make up my mind to do one thing or the other--either to cry out
or run back--the gig was resting on the water, the six runaways had
dropped into her, and the next moment had cut the davit-tackle and set
the boat free!

They appeared to act with extreme haste--as if they apprehended being
hindered from getting off, or were afraid that more would come up and
leap in along with them so as to overload the boat.

I could not comprehend why they were in such a desperate hurry. There
could be no danger of the gig being overloaded--as it was agreed she
should only take twelve--and I knew that most of the crew would far
prefer to go by the long-boat; moreover, there was as yet no danger from
the fire, for, although smoke was oozing out by the binnacle, it would
be a good while before this part could be ablaze. There was no one by
the wheel. The perfect calm that had continued since near morning
rendered a steersman superfluous, and the wheel stood idle and
neglected. The compass was gone. It was it I had observed in the
bottom of the boat.

I could not comprehend then why the captain and his five associates were
in such a way to be off, and thus desert the rest of their comrades in
misfortune. There was some mystery in it.

There was a mystery, which in another moment was cleared up, and by the
dastardly skipper himself, I was still standing by the taffrail, when
the davit-tackle was cut, and saw the gig-oars shoved out and ready to
pull away. The skipper himself grasped an oar. At that moment he
looked up and noticed me. He half rose from his seat, and in drunken
accents hiccuped out--

"Ahoy, there!--you boy, Bill!--tell 'em t' look sharp--hiccup--in
getting out long b't--sharp, d'y' hear.--L'em be quick about it--
quick,--hiccup--for by--hiccup--there's a barrel of pow--hiccup--powder
aboard!"