"It is barely possible that your men have not carried the deck of the Teaser." "Of course, it is possible they have not; but I don't believe they have failed," replied Lonley.
The privateersman listened for a few minutes in silence.

He appeared to be entirely confident that the victory must be with his men.

He evidently believed that the captors of the Teaser had sent her two boats off to a distance of a mile, and thus weakened whatever force she had on board of her.

He did not seem to have any idea that the party he had met in Pensacola Bay had been increased in numbers, or that the officer in command had reported to the ship to which they belonged.

Christy realized what Lonley was thinking about, and he clearly believed that the Teaser had been left in charge of not more than a dozen or fifteen men, reduced by at least six then on boat duty.
"Help! help!" shouted a man in the water at no great distance from the shore.
"What does that mean ?" said Lonley, springing to his feet.
"It is a call for help, and, as my hands are tied behind me, I cannot respond to it, as I would gladly do, be the man who needs it friend or enemy," replied Christy.