you'd do it for me, I should know
the worst, and I could get on then. I'm all nohow just now, and it
worries me."

"Do what, Tom?" said Mark.

"Just pass your finger round my head, and tell me for sartin whether
it's broke or no. It feels all opening and shutting like. Go it, sir;
don't you be feared. I won't holler."

Mark leaned forward and felt the man's head.

"It's not fractured, Tom," he said. "If it had been it would have made
you feel very different from this. You would have been insensible."

"Well, that what's I am, sir, and always have been. I never was a
sensible chap. But are you sure as it ain't broke, sir?"

"Certain, Tom."

"Then who cares? I don't mind a bit o' aching, and I'm ready for any
game you like. What do you say, sir, to trying to captivate the
schooner again?"

"You and I, Tom?"

"Well, it ain't a very strong force, sir, be it?"

"We must wait for daylight, Tom, and I hope by then some of the lads
will be able to pull an oar."

"Ay, ay, sir, o' course."

"I'm ready now," said Dick Bannock, with his voice sounding husky out of
the darkness; and there was silence, broken only by a groan or two for a
few minutes, during which Mark, feeling the terrible responsibility of
his position, tried to make some plan as to his future proceedings, but
only to be compelled to come back to the conclusion that there was
nothing to be done but wait for morning.

At one moment insane ideas as to the recapture of the schooner came to
trouble him, and this brought to mind what ought to have been his first
duty as the officer upon whom the command had suddenly fallen.

"Tom Fillot," he cried, excitedly, "go round the boat as carefully as
you can, and count the men, ourselves included. We ought to be eleven,
ought we not?"

"Let's see, sir. Two orficers is two; six AB's and coxswain seven, and
seven and two's nine; and the two nig--blacks, sir; nine and two's
'leven. That's right, sir 'leven."

"Go round then, and count."

"I think they could all answer to their names, sir, now, if I might be
so bold."

"Call them over, then."

"Ay, ay, sir. Here goes, then, lads. First orficer, Mr Russell, sir,
and you, sir's, two as we needn't count. Joe Dance, answer to your
name."

"Ay, ay," came in a growl.

"Dick Bannock."

"Here."

"Bill Billings."

"What's left on me, mate."

"Sam Grote."

"Here, but ain't got no head."

"Bob Stepney."

"Here; and wish I warn't," cam