Davis emerged from the engine room, wiping his hands on a wisp of waste, saw by the eyes of the four men that he was trapped, and looked steadily at the captain.
"What's the idea, cap?"
"Stick up them hands!"
"What is it, I say?"
"Guess you know. You wanted to get into the swamp with us, did you, you damn snooper? Well, you're going in there—to stay."
The scarred man thrust forward a noosed rope.
"Put your hands in that, you damn snooper."
"Put 'em in," growled the captain, "or I'll shoot your ears off."
Davis made a pretense of obeying, caught the rope holder about the middle and rushed him at the captain. So swift and skillful was his move that ere the lethargic captain could move he found himself pinned against the rail. With one hand Davis flung his human shield aside while the other leaped up and caught the captain's gun hand. His disengaged hand slipped inside his shirt; and then two men leaped like wolves upon his back.
"He's got a gun on him! Look out!"