The pirates bounded into the camp like jackals, howling and brandishing their weapons.
As soon as the camp was invaded, the captain left his people to pillage and kill at their pleasure. Without concerning himself any more about them, he rushed towards the tent.
But there his passage was barred. The general had rallied seven or eight men round him, and awaited the bandit firmly, resolved to die rather than allow one of those wretches to touch his niece.
At the sight of the old soldier, with his flashing eye, his pistol in one hand and his sword in the other, the captain paused.
But this pause did not last longer than a flash of lightning; he got together a half-score of pirates by a shout for help.
"Give way!" he said, brandishing his machete.
"Come on!" the general said, biting his moustache with fury.
The two men rushed upon each other, their people imitated them, and the mêlée became general.
Then followed a terrible and merciless struggle between men who, on both sides, knew they had no pity to expect.