Max Pemberton

“ To shoot at this man was impossible, even had there been light by which to load; but the dark was unbroken, and they knew the hiding-place only when they saw gleaming eyes, as the eyes of a brute, shining up from the shadow, or heard the muttered prayer of one to whom death was very near. ”

“ The wind now blew a full gale, and the sea was beginning to surge heavily upon the reef. Fisher, who had sat at the tiller of the longboat through the whole affair, and upon whom the fight had come as a revelation, compelling him to see of what kind were the men his friends, still kept the nose of the boat toward the centre of the pool; but Messenger called upon him to take an oar, and he obeyed as a man who hears, but can make no answer. The nigger was at the bow-thwart ”

“ This deterred them in no way, but, having ceased to row for a spell that they might shape the best course possible to make the inner pool, they were suddenly startled by a low cry from Fisher, who had the tiller, and whose eyes were glued upon the reef.
"Prince," said he, "is that a man moving on the poop there, or can't I see straight?"
"By gosh! it is a man!" said Burke; and the nigger, chiming in, cried—
"Two men, sah, and a keg for to lug, by golly!" ”

“ And in this perplexity they remained for a long spell, while the boat drifted in the loom of the land.
"It just comes to this," said Messenger, when they had argued the matter for the tenth time, "we must find a place we can hold while one of us gets to Ferrol and brings a ship. For that purpose we shall want something a little stronger than bushes above us; and we don't look to camp in this ship it may be for a week, it may be for two. My own inclination sends me round the eastward headland, there to learn what's beyond the village ”

“ Of the bullion all, with the exception of two small kegs, was now either sunk in the white haven or stowed in the lifeboat; but one keg lay near the body of the dead Spaniard, and his left hand rested upon it. The light in the cabin was at this time somewhat better, and Messenger, taking a last look round, observed the forgotten plunder, and made a step forward to take it ”