At length the _Donibristle_ was warped out until her bows nearly touched the sheer face of the cliff that formed the detached screen to the anchorage. Hawsers were then led from her port quarter and starboard bow, until she swung straight up and down the Southern Approach Channel. A cable's length more and the ship arrived at the scene of her watery grave.
Captain Blair, looking much like a parent would when called upon to sacrifice a child--for the idea of scuttling his ship was hateful to him in the extreme--shouted for the boats to be recalled. The life-boat, in which Burgoyne and half a dozen men had been working, ranged alongside under the _Donibristle's_ port quarter. Astern of the life-boat was a gig; while a couple of cutters and another gig--the latter only manned by pirates--came alongside the starboard accommodation ladder.
"We're in eight fathoms of water, Mr. Burgoyne," sang out the Old Man.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied the Third Officer.
Captain Blair turned and made his way to the spot where Black Strogoff was standing.
"We are in position," he reported gruffly.
"And about time, too," was the ungracious response. "All right, tell your men to push off."
The skipper of the _Donibristle_ then crossed to the starboard rail, and leaning over the side ordered the men to lay off at a distance of about half a dozen boats' lengths. Then, calling to everyone of his party on board to abandon ship, he waited until the deck was clear of all but Black Strogoff and two or three of his followers, and lowering himself by a rope gained the gig on the port side.
The scuttling was quickly accomplished. In order to prevent the vessel from being raised at any future date the Kingston Valves were not employed to flood the ship, but in each of the holds and in the engine-room explosive charges had been placed in position ready to be electrically fired from the deck.
"You know what to do, Perez?" inquired Black Strogoff, addressing an olive-featured ruffian whose costume consisted of a pair of canvas trousers, a poncho made of pampas grass, and a cork lifebelt.
The man nodded. He had no great liking for the task, and was wondering what would happen to him if the charge was sufficiently powerful to blow up the decks as well as shattering the keel plates.