Tired of waiting, anxious to possess the money, and not supposing that the lads were armed, he went once more forward and spoke to the men.

Gascoigne had watched his motions; he thought it singular that, with three men in the vessel, the helm should be confided to the boy--and at last he saw them draw their knives.

He pushed our hero, who woke immediately.

Gascoigne put his hand over Jack's mouth, that he might not speak, and then whispered his suspicions.

Jack seized his pistols--they both cocked them without noise, and then waited in silence, Jack still lying down, while Gascoigne continued to sit up at the bottom of the boat.
At last Gascoigne saw the three men coming aft--he dropped one of his pistols for a second to give Jack a squeeze of the hand, which was returned, and as Gascoigne watched them making their way through the piles of empty baskets he leaned back as if he was slumbering.