There was no one aft.

Here some fifteen or twenty feet of water separated the ships, and even the helmsmen had left the wheel to join in the fight.

About half of the lugger's crew had made their way on to the deck of the schooner, but the Jersey men were still fighting stoutly.

The rest of the lugger's crew were gathered in the bow of their own vessel, waiting until there should be a clear enough space left for them to join their comrades.
"Things look bad," Terence exclaimed.

"The French crew are a great deal stronger.