SHORT-HANDED. 247

takin’ to one of the small boats an’ headin’ for the gold
coast.”

« Did they count on making it in the boat?”

“Isdra claimed it could be done.”

« But why did you think there was anything on board
worth stealing which could be carried away?”

“Jt was Isdra again, sir. He said you took treasure
on at Macao, belongin’ to the owner.”

« Well, I'll tell you for your satisfaction, my man, that
outside of what little money the mates and I had in our
pockets — probably not over two hundred dollars all told,
—there wasn’t a cent’s worth aft, that could have done
you any good whatever. Was it Isdra who wasted the
water?”

« He helped it along, sir, after the casks burst.”

“Why wasn't he satisfied to carry the same scheme
into execution when we should put into Ascension?”

“’Cause there were some friends of his at St. Helena,
an’ he counted on takin’ them with us to the gold coast.
And now I don’t expect you to believe me, captain, yet it
is true, them fellers agreed solemnly with us what went
inter the job, that there was no blood to be spilled. When
the attack was made on the mates I knew no more about
it than you did at the moment.”

“Who killed Freeman?”

“Tsdra, sir, an’ when the rest of us would have drawn
back ’cause he had gone further than was agreed on, he
threatened us with his revolver, an’, after what had hap-
pened, we knew he wouldn't hesitate to kill us any