A man on the deck whom he took to be the captain shouted at him, but when Robert, pulling hard, shot his boat ahead, it seemed to him that the schooner changed her course also.
It was the last impression he had of the incident, as the prow of the schooner struck his boat and clove it in twain.

He jumped instinctively, but his head received a glancing blow, and he did not remember anything more until he awoke in a very dark and close place.

His head ached abominably, and when he strove to raise a hand to it he found that he could not do so.

He thought at first that it was due to weakness, a sort of temporary paralysis, coming from the blow that he dimly remembered, but he realized presently that his hands were bound, tied tightly to his sides.
He moved his body a little, and it struck against wood on either side.

His feet also were bound, and he became conscious of a swaying motion.