There seemed to be no help for it. Case took all the time he could in lifting the hatch and turning the switch, but at last the lights flared up again, making the boat as light as day, for during the dark interval one of the men had turned the switch which fed the prow light.
While Case lay there, not daring to move hand or foot, his mind went back to Alex and the dog. Had they been killed at the first moment of invasion? Had they resisted and been thrown into the river?
“Come, now,” a voice in the cabin said, “you may as well tell us where the money is. We are bound to have it, you know!”
“I have told you the truth about the money?” Clay responded.
“Heat up the coils!” shouted the first speaker. “We’ll have to warm his feet for him! It is a cool night, anyway, and it may do him good.”
The boys listened for some sound of life on the river—for some trading boat to come creeping up! But there were no indications of the approach of any river craft whatever. Still, there was a slight jar!
Perhaps the Rambler had been struck by a floating log! Perhaps an eddy had sent the boat pulling harder against her chain! There was a slight movement on the aft deck. Perhaps the dog had been asleep there, or perhaps Teddy had returned to the Rambler and was creeping up out of the water The deck guard stepped to the prow to shut off the light.
Then a shot came from the rear, and the pirate threw up his hands, balanced unsteadily on the rail for an instant, and fell into the river like a stone. Case sprang out of the way as the fellow’s companions rushed from the cabin, brandishing their guns and demanding to know who had done the shooting.
Other shots came in quick succession, and another pirate dropped limply to the deck while the remaining two sprang over the railing and, not stopping to secure their small launch, struck out for the shore.
When Clay and Don came out of the cabin they found Alex and Captain Joe watching the two heads bobbing in the water. Case had arisen to his feet and was looking with all his eyes at Teddy, perched in a boxing attitude on the roof of the cabin.