"I'm so tired that I don't think I could keep awake, even if I knew old Jarks was likely to come and threaten me with a pistol.

But, I say, Ladle, that wretch shot at us twice.

Why, he might have hit one of us.

Won't he have to be punished when we get away and tell all about him ?" "Yes, I suppose so--if ever we do get away," said Mike sadly.
Then they relapsed into silence, both watching the stars to convince themselves that they were going round and round, making the circuit of some wide place surrounded by the towering rocks, which made the sea look so intensely black.
At last, thoroughly convinced, the strain of thinking became too great, the motion of the boat and the constant gliding along in that horrible monotonous whirl began to affect Mike as it had affected Vince, and, in spite of his energetic struggles to rouse himself from it, was now attacking him more strongly than ever.

They were surrounded by dangers, the least of which was that of the pursuing boat with the exasperated captain; for so surely as the boat grazed upon a rock just below the surface she would capsize.