'Be hung, I suppose,' muttered Rowland from between his teeth.

'Not quite so bad as that I hope,' rejoined Blackbeard.

'I hope not, too,' answered Rowland; 'but there is a very dim chance for
us to escape with whole necks.'

'How so, father? What do you mean?' asked Blackbeard.

'Did not Lovelace tell you that the Fury was chased all day yesterday by
one of His Majesty's sloops-of-war?'

'He did not,' replied Blackbeard, who was greatly astonished by the
intelligence thus communicated. 'But what is to be done?'

'One of two things must be decided upon, and that quickly,' answered
Rowland. 'We must either get the brig underweigh, and sail for it, or
else shut ourselves up here and fight for it.'

'You will be obliged to decide upon the latter position, then, for the
brig is aground.'

'D--nation!' muttered Rowland, then recollecting himself, he continued:

'Well, Herbert, how many of our crew is there now about the palace?'

'Not more than a dozen.'

'There should be thirteen, I think,' replied Rowland.