“Blood for blood!” cried the second mate, aiming a blow at the old man.
“You have it,” replied Antonio, as his knife entered the pirate’s heart, while, at the same moment, he fell and was himself a corpse.
The struggle was deadly, but the numbers and ferocity of the pirates prevailed. Cain rushed forward followed by Hawkhurst, bearing down all who opposed them. With one blow from the pirate-captain, the head of Don Ribiera was severed to the shoulder; a second struck down the eldest son, while the sword of Hawkhurst passed through the body of the other. The Portuguese captain had already fallen, and the men no longer stood their ground. A general massacre ensued, and the bodies were thrown overboard as fast as the men were slaughtered. In less than five minutes there was not a living Portuguese on the bloody decks of the ill-fated ship.
Chapter Nine.
The Capture.
“Pass the word for not a man to go below, Hawkhurst,” said the pirate-captain.
“I have, sir; and sentries are stationed at the hatchways. Shall we haul the schooner off?”
“No, let her remain; the breeze is faint already: we shall have a calm in half an hour. Have we lost many men?”