"Heaven be praised!" murmured George Dross, when set free. "I was afraid we had reached the end of our string."
"I reckon that fellow has reached the end of his string—or he will when he hangs," answered Oscar. "Bind him with the ropes that bound you." And Dross quickly complied.
With the leaders of the expedition against the new Holland out of the way, and with five men to fight but six, Oscar rightfully felt that success was now but a short distance off.
George Dross was soon armed, and then Oscar and the old engineer moved silently toward the lookout.
Here two men were stationed, a Spaniard and an Italian. They were both gazing intently at what was before them in the ocean, and neither heard the approach of the Americans until it was too late for them to do anything.
Both were thrown down and in the struggle one was knocked senseless. Then the pair were bound, back to back, and pitched into one of the lower compartments of the Holland XI.
While this was going on two other men had appeared in front of Andy and those with the young lieutenant.
A fierce fight ensued, in which one of the foreigners was shot and the second cut in the head with a sword. One of the Americans was also wounded, but the wound was of small consequence.
Half an hour later the Holland XI. was once again in complete control of her regular crew.
Walton explained how he had been overcome, and Oscar read him a lecture on being more careful in the future.