R. Austin Freeman

“ Jopling,” replied the captain, “here are thirty men armed, and here are we four men unarmed. That is the situation, and I am afraid there is nothing for us but to accept it.”
“Spoken like a sensible man,” commented Salter jeeringly, and without another word the three mates descended on to the main deck and marched forward with the crew.
“What port is it you want to make for?” asked the captain of Salter, who had now stepped up on to the poop.
“The nearest port to Klondike,” answered the boatswain. ”

“ You will make direct for Cross Sound, and, when we’re a day’s easy sail off the land, let me know and I’ll tell you what to do next. And see here; if I catch you at any tricks, takin’ the ship into any other port or trying to make signals to any other vessel, you’re a dead man that very instant.”
Captain Merriman nodded, and passed down the companion-way.
That night Captain Merriman retired to his cabin at about half-past nine. ”

“ Down with them signals and let’s stow ’em away.”
“I say, Joe,” shouted Hurst excitedly, as he gazed intently at the man-o’-war, “she’s a-roundin’ to. S’help me if she ain’t a-headin’ straight for us.” He picked up the telescope and pointed it at the cruiser.
“Why, dash my eyes, if they ain’t a-lowerin’ a boat,” he exclaimed, turning to Salter.
The boatswain snatched the captain’s telescope from his hand and took a long look at the approaching vessel. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1943, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”