HAL turned quickly, to see if any of his men had been hit.
"Not one hit, but it's a wonder," Noll informed his brother officer. "The bullets of those fellows made a pin-cushion of the air all about us."
"Ready, men! Load, aim!" ordered Lieutenant Overton. Then he added, in a lower voice:
"If I give the word 'fire,' be sure you sweep that stranger's deck clean."
"Don't you dare fire on us," yelled the same hoarse voice. "There are ladies aboard!"
"A likely yarn!" Hal jeered hotly.
"If you fire you'll find that there are. Now, sheer off!"
"You lay to," insisted Lieutenant Hal. "We're coming aboard."
"You only think you are!"
"Will you lay to?"