"Hurrah!" shouted Harry Green, as he saw two of the attacking party stretched on the floor of the cabin. "Surrender, Sam Barton! Drop that oar!"
"Surrender yourself!" shouted Friday and Jack Spaniard, springing down the ladder and placing themselves beside the chief.
By a dexterous movement with his boat-hook, Friday succeeded in disarming the first-lieutenant; and Atkins and Xury, having recovered their feet, each seized a musket and renewed the battle. Tom, thinking that he could assist the governor without fighting for him, stood at the foot of the companion-ladder, and called lustily for help from some imaginary followers.
"Bring the rest of the men in out of the boat!" he shouted, looking up into the darkness, as if he was addressing some one on deck; "and go and tell those fellows in the galley to come here."
"Down with the 'cademy swells!" shouted the chief again, encouraged by the arrival of his reënforcements. "Drive 'em back! Punch 'em in the ribs!"
If the students had been on equal terms with their assailants, all the shouting Sam could have done would not have decided the battle in his favor. The boys composing the guard belonged to the Storm King, and among them were several officers—lieutenants, masters, and midshipmen—who would willingly have borne almost any amount of bodily suffering rather than surrender the yacht. Like all "old sailors," they had become strongly attached to their vessel, and they defended her with as much resolution as they would have exhibited had she been a human being, capable of appreciating their affection. Besides, their reputation as officers and seamen were at stake. The result of this night's work would be brought up at the next examination, either for or against them; and, if they lost the vessel, it would be regarded as evidence that they were not worthy of being trusted, and rival students would have occasion for rejoicing. More than that, although they were at a loss to imagine what object Tom had in view in seizing the yacht—for they were certain that he was the prime mover in the affair—they knew that it was his intention to take her to sea; a proceeding that would not only endanger their vessel, but the life of every boy on board of her. The officers of the Storm King had been appointed after a rigid examination, and, consequently, they were the best sailors at the academy. They were all worthy of the positions they held, but it is doubtful if even the promise of promotion would have induced the bravest of them to take the yacht to sea in the face of the tempest that was then raging. But, with all these motives to animate them, the students could not fight unarmed against the weapons of the Crusoe band. They experienced the same feelings that soldiers experience in actual warfare; and, indeed, that was not surprising, for the affair in the cabin was a real battle. Crusoe and his men fought with the utmost fury—even including Tom Newcombe, who, after calling upon his imaginary companion on deck, to send down more help, sprang to the side of the chief, and assisted in driving the students back from their muskets, which were almost within reach. He also imagined that he was fighting for his reputation. If the attack failed, he would be forever disgraced. He would be taken to the academy as a prisoner, it would become known throughout the village that he was the companion and associate of young robbers, and then, what would become of him? What would his father say about it? With Sam, the case was different. He feared no disgrace, but he did fear Mr. Grimes, the police magistrate, and the jail. His case was desperate; and it was no wonder that he fought like a young tiger.
"That's it, lads?" exclaimed the chief, as the students fell back, when they saw the reënforcements coming down the ladder, and heard Tom calling for more men. "Down with the 'cademy swells!"
The attack was too furious to be successfully resisted. The students retreated in confusion, and when the last one had been driven into the hold, the door was closed and fastened.