A moment later he was engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict. Several firearms had flashed off almost in his face. One of the soldiers fell with a sharp cry, but those who were following rushed forward. Ralph narrowly escaped having his brains dashed out by a clubbed rifle, but springing back just in time he ran his opponent through before he could recover his guard.
Just at this moment a big man with a shock of red hair and a huge beard levelled a blunderbuss at him. It flashed across him that his last moment had come; when a man behind leapt suddenly upon the ruffian's back and they fell to the ground together, the blunderbuss going off in the fall and riddling a soldier standing next to Ralph with slugs.
For two or three minutes a desperate struggle went on between Ralph and his six men and those who attempted to break through them. Sturdily as the soldiers fought they had been driven back towards the entrance by the assailants, armed with pikes and clubbed guns. There was no sound of conflict at the other end of the cave, and Ralph felt that the attack there had for some reason failed.
"Shoulder to shoulder, lads!" he shouted. "We shall have help in a minute or two."
He had emptied both his double-barrelled pistols. His sword had just broken short in his hand while guarding his head from a heavy blow. He himself had been almost struck to the ground, when there was a rush of men from behind, and the rest of the soldiers poured in.
"Give them a volley, lads!" he shouted; "and then charge them with the bayonets!"
The muskets rang out, and then there was a shout of "We surrender! we surrender!" A minute later the men were disarmed.
THE RED CAPTAIN.—VI.
There was still a desperate struggle going on on the ground.
"Here, lads," Ralph said to two of his men. "Secure this red fellow, he is their leader. One of you bring a torch here."