CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Borrowing the knife that Duff always carried, Watters sawed through the boy’s bonds and told them to crawl to safety. Most were crying, while others were too shocked to speak. Some were so weak after long confinement that they could hardly move.
“Come on, lads!” Watters urged them on, half pushing, half carrying the weakest as he urged them out of their prison. “You’re safe now, and you’ll be home in a few hours.”
“You poor wee buggers,” Duff was in tears as he helped the boys. “What have they done to you?” He lifted one small boy. “Come on, son; we’ll get you to fresh air.”
Watters clambered to the upper deck, fighting his disgust and anger.
“Raise four lanterns,” he shouted to the steam launch. “Duff and Nicol, remain here with the lads. Find some food for them, a
