The mulatto's thick arm was about Davis' throat, dragging him back, yet he managed to give the captain's wrist a sharp twist which flung the revolver high in the air to drop with a splash into the river ere he fell in a tangle with his assailants to the deck.
"Look out! He's strong's a bear! He's got a gun! Kick his head, somebody! Kick his head!"
In their little coop forward, from which they saw it all, Payne looked at Higgins. Higgins returned the look.
"He's a white man against four."
"Come on, Hig!"
With a kick Payne sent the door flying and crawled out on deck.
The captain saw him and sprang for an ax. Roger caught him in a leap, flung him aside and threw the ax overboard.
Higgins kicked, struck and pulled at the pile on Davis and saved him from being kicked unconscious or killed, and suddenly found himself on the deck with the pile on top of him. Payne came to his rescue. A few seconds of rough work and they were up on their feet, fighting furiously.
"Look! He's getting away!" The captain pointed at Davis who, in the mêlée, had leaped overboard and was in the canoe pushing his way into the jungle.
"Quitting?" demanded Payne.