Go down
below, all of you--do you hear, obey my orders?"
"Yes, and report them, too, to the admiral," replied Coble; "I never
heard such an order given in my born days, and fifty odd years I have
served in the king's fleet."
"Corporal Van Spitter, I order you below--all of you below," cried
Vanslyperken; "I command here--will you obey, sir?"
"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal, walking away, and coolly
descending the ladder.
The boats were now within ten yards of the cutter, and the men stood
irresolute; the corporal obeying orders had disheartened them: some of
them followed the corporal.
"It's no use," said Coble, "I sees now it's of no use; it's only being
cut to pieces for nothing, my men; but I won't leave the deck." Coble
threw away his cutlass, and walked aft; the other men did the same, all
but Jansen, who still hesitated. Coble caught the cutlass out of his
hand, and threw it overboard, just as the boats dashed alongside.
"Gott for dam," muttered Jansen, folding his arms and facing the men who
jumped on the cutter's decks. Ramsay, who was first on board when he
perceived that the men were standing on the decks without making any
opposition, turned and threw up the points of the swords of some of his
men who were rushing blindly on, and, in a minute all was quiet on the
decks of the _Yungfrau_.
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