"Three lots of six," I said, as I now saw plainly enough how it was that the prisoners were in such a strange position. For they had been dragged together and their pigtails lashed into a tight knot, a process admirably suited to the object in hand--to render them perfectly helpless; and their aspect certainly did not excite my anger. Meanwhile the boatswain had stepped into the swinging boat, and he turned to me, but looked at Smith as he spoke. "Like to try whether either of the others will bite, Mr Herrick?" he said. Smith coloured and frowned. "No, thank you," I replied; "I'm satisfied." "Now then, you two," said the boatswain, "stand by with your bayonets; and you, my lads, be ready as we cast them loose. Get a good grip of each fellow by the tail; he'll be helpless then." I stood looking on at the curious scene, and the next minute was conscious of the fact that the first lieutenant had returned to supervise the putting of the prisoners in irons himself; and, as the tails were unlashed, he took note of the men who were injured, and had them lifted out and laid on deck. The others made no attempt to escape, for they were too firmly held; but, as the armourer fitted on the irons, I could see their wild-beast-like eyes rolling in different directions, and then become fixed with a look of savage hate on our men, who were certainly none too tender with a set of wretches who only waited an opportunity to destroy life without the slightest compunction. At last they were all lying on the deck--nine with serious wounds, the other half for the most part injured, but only to a very slight extent, and these were soon after taken one by one between a file of marines to the place in the hold appointed once more for their prison. Then the doctor came up for ten minutes, and, after a few words with the sergeant of marines, examined the nine prisoners, passing over six to the sergeant with orders, and having three laid aside for his own ministrations. We three lads stood watching the sergeant, who had evidently had some practice in ambulance work, and skilfully enough he set to work sponging and bandaging injuries. But all the time a couple of marines stood, one on either side, ready to hold the prisoners down, for each seemed to look upon the dressing of his wounds as a form of torture which he was bound to resist with all his might. "Nice boys, Mr Herrick," said the boatswain drily. "Do you know why we are taking all this pains?" "To save their lives and give them up to the authorities at Tsin-Tsin, I suppose." "Yes, sir." "For them to be put on their trial for piracy on the high seas." "Yes, sir, that's it; but it would be a greater kindness to let the wretches die out of their misery." "But some of them mayn't be guilty," I said. The boatswain laughed.