“What is he going to do?” asked Hodge. “Try to scare us?”
“He is desperado enough to attempt anything,” said Merry.
All at once Flynn shouted:
“Go back! If you don’t, I’ll fill you full of bullets!”
The threat was not heeded, and the man dropped beside the rail close to the stern of the White Wings. He took aim with the rifle. Then there was a puff of smoke, and with a cry Frank dropped.
Before Dustan could grasp the wheel, however, Merry was up again.
“I got down just in time, then,” he said, coolly. “I saw the puff of smoke, and the bullet whistled within an inch of my head as I fell.”
“Look out! He may shoot again!”
“No! Look! look! The other man is trying to take the gun away from him! They are fighting!”
It was true. On the White Wings a struggle was taking place between the two men. The sailor had deserted the wheel, and the yacht soon came up into the wind with her sails fluttering. The main boom swung over and struck Flynn on the head, knocking him overboard.