She snatched her hand from his hastily, and looked upon him in a scared manner. What she would have said was checked by a sharp cry from the captain.
“Quick all!” he shouted, “they are coming.”
The doctor rushed back into the little saloon, and he was only just in time, for the door had been quietly unfastened from without, and headed by Lauré, armed to the teeth, the enemy, to the number of eight, suddenly appeared, and the two sides stood face to face.
“There, throw down those knives,” he said in a sharp voice, “fools and idiots. The tables are turned now. Parkley, Pugh, you little thought that my day would come, but it has. Now, surrender!”
There was no reply by words, and the Cuban read the intention of those he sought to master by their determined front.
“Do you want to be shot down where you stand?” he cried.
“Better that than trust to the mercies of such a scoundrel as you,” cried Dutch, passionately.
“Ah, my brave diver and shark slayer, are you there? Put down that weapon; I don’t want you hurt, nor you neither, Master Rasp, for you have to work for me.” There was no reply for a moment or two, and then Dutch spoke to the men who were with the Cuban.
“I warn you all,” he said; but as he spoke he could see that he was addressing men who were infuriated with drink. “I warn you all that we are desperate, and shall fight to the last. Come over to our side, and help to secure that scoundrel, and you shall all be richly rewarded. Fight for him, and if you escape death now, the law must overtake you for piracy, and you will be hung.”
There was a loud laugh at this, and the captain whispered: