"There's a mutiny," said Cosmo. "We've got to fight for our lives. Have you got arms?"
Not one had a weapon except Waters, who displayed a pistol half as long as his arm.
"Here, Peterson, take this," said Cosmo, handing a pistol to one of the
two mariners who had been on the bridge. "They will be here in a minute.
If Campo had been a sailor, he'd have had possession here the first thing.
I'll turn off all lights."
With that he pressed a button which put out every lamp in the ark. But there was a full moon, and they concealed themselves in the shadows.
Presently they heard the mutineers approaching, stumbling and cursing in the darkness. Cosmo directed Peterson and Waters to place themselves at his side, and told them to fire when he gave the word.
The next instant four men appeared crossing a moonlit place at the foot of the steps on the outside of the dome.
"Wait," whispered Cosmo. "The pistols go at a pull. We can sweep down a dozen in ten seconds. Let them all get in sight first."
Half a minute later there were twelve men climbing the steps and cautiously looking up.
"Fire!" cried Cosmo, setting the example, and three streams of blue flame pulsated from the bridge. The sound of the bullets striking made more noise than the explosions.
Five or six of the men below fell, knocking down their comrades, and a loud curse burst from the lips of Campo, who had a bullet through his arm.