All these incidents which we have been so long in describing, occupied but a very few seconds in taking place. Before the astonished officer of the deck could recover himself sufficiently to command the peace, Waters had complete possession of the forecastle. And even when the officer did recover himself the orders he issued might as well have been addressed to the mast, for Waters paid no attention to them.
“Drop that handspike,” shouted Mr. Baldwin, starting forward.
“Yes, I’ll drop it no doubt,” replied Waters. “You remember what you said to me yesterday, don’t you, you fellow with the gold band around your cap? Look hout for yourself, for I’m coming for you now.”
Waters was as good as his word. Swinging his handspike viciously about his head to clear a path before him, he started aft; but before he had made many steps he ran against something, just as Archie had predicted. Dick Lewis and old Bob Kelly had stood silent and amazed spectators of the scene, and Archie, who had expected so much of his backwoods friend in case of disturbance, forgot that he was present. But now the trapper called attention to himself by giving one or two fierce Indian yells, like those that had so often rung in his ears while he was battling with or fleeing from his sworn enemies.
“Whoop! Whoop!” yelled Dick.
The boys looked towards him and saw that he had prepared himself for action by discarding his hat and pushing back his sleeves. Then he crouched like a panther about to make a spring, and in a second more was flying across the deck like an arrow from a bow. Waters saw him coming, and halting, drew back his handspike in readiness to receive him. As the trapper approached within striking distance, the weapon descended with such speed and power that the boys all uttered an exclamation of horror, and Frank involuntarily started forward as if to shield his friend from the blow that seemed about to annihilate him. But Dick was in no need of help. Long experience had taught him how to take care of himself in any emergency. A flash of lightning is scarcely quicker than was the movement he made to avoid the descending weapon. It passed harmlessly through the air over his head, and the force with which it was driven sent Waters sideways into the arms of the trapper, while the handspike flew from his grasp and went over the side.
“Stand by me, mates!” roared the giant, as he felt the trapper’s strong arms closing about him with crushing power.
This was all he had time to say—he was not allowed an instant in which to do anything—for before the words had fairly left his lips he was thrown to the deck with stunning force, and held as firmly as if he had been in a vice. Just then Uncle Dick appeared on the scene. “Master-at-arms!” he exclaimed.
“Here, sir,” replied the petty officer, stepping forward. He knew that his services would be required and he was all ready to act. He had a pair of irons in his hand—something the boys did not suppose could be found in the schooner’s outfit.
“Put them on,” said Uncle Dick. “Now, Lewis,” he added, after the ruffian’s hands and ankles had been securely confined, “let him up.”