“Now, pile cables over the hatchway,” Will shouted.
The sailors rushed to carry out the order. They were startled as they did so by a shout from above.
“Hillo, below there! Have you got possession of the ship?”
“Yes. Is that you, Forster?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God for that!” Will shouted back, while the men gave a cheer. “Why don’t you come down?”
“I am going to slide down the mast.”
“What for? Why don’t you come down by the rattlings?”
“I have cut the shrouds. When our last man fell I made a dash for them, and directly I got to the top I cut them, and half a dozen men who were climbing after me fell sprawling to the deck. Then I cut them on the other side. I thought then that they would at once shoot me, but there was a lively argument among them and shouts of laughter, and they evidently thought that it would be a great joke to leave me up here until I chose to slide down and be killed. Of course I heard their attack on you, and trembled for the result; but when the noise suddenly ceased I guessed that you had repulsed them. Well, here goes!” and half a minute later he slid down to the deck. “How do matters stand?” he asked, when he stood among them.
“We killed six and wounded eight or ten in the first attack upon us, and we have shot five more now. All the rest are battened down below.”