Page 540 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE VALLEY OF THE

SHADOW OF DEATH.

t was not until they had scrambled up the beach to safety
Ithat the absconders became fully aware of the loss of an-
other of their companions. As they stood on the break of
the beach, wringing the water from their clothes, Gabbett’s
small eye, counting their number, missed the stroke oar.
‘Where’s Cox?’
‘The fool fell overboard,’ said Jemmy Vetch shortly. ‘He
never had as much sense in that skull of his as would keep it
sound on his shoulders.’
Gabbett scowled. ‘That’s three of us gone,’ he said, in the
tones of a man suffering some personal injury.
They summed up their means of defence against attack.
Sanders and Greenhill had knives. Gabbett still retained
the axe in his belt. Vetch had dropped his musket at the
Neck, and Bodenham and Cornelius were unarmed.
‘Let’s have a look at the tucker,’ said Vetch.
There was but one bag of provisions. It contained a piece
of salt pork, two loaves, and some uncooked potatoes. Sig-
nal Hill station was not rich in edibles.
‘That ain’t much,’ said the Crow, with rueful face. ‘Is it,