"Go ahead and kill me," Darrin dared him.
"But if you vill to reason yet listen—"
"You're wasting time and breath," Darrin assured him, coolly.
Just then something happened. Darrin, using a trick that he had learned on the wrestling mat and had since perfected, threw both his arms around the left arm of the "Olga's" skipper. Clasping his hands and pressing his arms against the skipper's left arm, Dave gave a great heave and rolled to his own left. The trick depended upon speed.
The skipper crashed over on his head. The revolver was discharged in the overturn, but the bullet went wild.
In the twinkling of an eye Dave had grabbed the weapon, and leaped to his feet just in time to dodge the hatch bar that the mate tried to smash down on his head.
"Back, unless you want yours right now!" Darrin challenged. Swiftly he changed the revolver into his left hand as he still covered the pair. Then he reached for his own automatic, throwing off the safety device.
"Now, you, Mr. Mate, slip around and unbolt the door, throwing it open," Dave ordered. "Any sign of a trick will end your life on the spot!"
Seemingly cowed, the mate obeyed.
"Open the door—throw it wide open," Dave commanded.