Moreover, as in the case of the _Minnie B_, they
had deserted their ship without taking a boat or even so much as a
life buoy.
The amazed group of men collected about them other members of the
searching party, who stuck their heads out of ports and doors now and
then to see that no evil magic had set the rigging in flames.
"They all go th' same way," mumbled Hogan, staring at the anchor and
wetting his dry lips. "Oi'm thinkin' it'll be our toime nixt."
"Piffle," derided the American half-heartedly.
"It makes no difference what happens," put in Caradoc, "we'll see the
thing through."
For some reason the men thought better of Smith since the fight and his
crisp announcement cheered them somewhat.
"She's got plenty o' coal," volunteered Galton.
"'Er engines look all right," contributed Mulcher, "though I know
bloomin' little about hengines."
"I weesh I knew what happened to the men," worried Deschaillon in his
filed-down accent.
"My quistion ixactly, Frinchy," nodded Hogan emphatically. "Misther
Madden says 'Piffle,' but Oi say where are they piffled to? Did they go
over in a storm, or die of fever, or run crazy with heat?"
"They didn't starve," declared Mulcher, "for some of th' fellows are in
th' cook's galley now eatin'."
Madden lifted his hand for attention, "There's no use speculating on
what has happened.
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