They were fighting in silence now.... All had passed so quickly that it was still scarce more than seconds since Brander dropped into the fo'c's'le. Their bodies thumped the planking resonantly; they struggled in a fashion that shook the ship. They were gasping and choking for breath....
Some one screamed terribly in Brander's very ear, and a hand that was gripping his neck relaxed and fell away. The bodies of the fighting men were for an instant still; and in that instant's silence, some one asked:
"You all right, Mr. Brander?"
Brander knew the voice. Mauger's. He said: "Yes...."
Mauger squirmed out from under Brander.... "What hit Slatter?" he asked sharply. "Did you get him?..."
Brander got up, and the body of Slatter fell away from him limply. It was about that time that Dan'l reached the fo'c's'le scuttle above, and looked down into the darkness. He saw nothing; and he called:
"Mr. Brander?"
Brander said quietly: "Yes, sir, all right."
"What's wrong, here?"
"Slatter tried to knife me," said Brander.