Lord Hastings laid a hand on the knob and surveyed those behind him.
"All ready?" he asked.
"Ready, sir," replied Jack quietly.
With a sudden movement Lord Hastings jerked open the door and stepped quickly within.
"Hands up!" he called sharply.
Four men sat at a table in what appeared to be the commander's cabin. They looked up from their game at Lord Hastings' gruff command and seeing but a solitary figure, all dropped their hands to their side.
"Hands up!" commanded Lord Hastings again.
Instead of obeying this command, one man produced a revolver, shouting:
"There is only one! Shoot him!"
But Lord Hastings' revolver spoke first and the officer tumbled over. The other three had now drawn their weapons and one fired at Lord Hastings. The shot went wild and Lord Hastings dropped him with a second well-directed bullet.