[Just then a second gun was fired by the pursuer], and with an angry scream a shot flew over the schooner, and plunged into the water far ahead.
[“JUST THEN A SECOND GUN WAS FIRED BY THE PURSUER”]
“Then go below, ye swab, and stay there!” roared Captain Duff, furious at both the shot and Phil’s words. As he spoke he gave the lad a violent shove that landed him at the foot of the cabin stairs, and at the same time the slide was drawn to above his head.
[CHAPTER XVIII]
CHASED BY A REVENUE-CUTTER
As Phil picked himself up from the cabin floor, his whole frame ablaze with anger, he muttered through his clinched teeth, “If that brute thinks I am going to stay down here like a rat in a hole, he is mightily mistaken, that’s all.”
Then, with a boldness born of his bitter feelings, he made his way through the narrow passage into the galley, out through it to the deck, and walking deliberately aft, assumed his former position. Now, however, he keenly watched Captain Duff’s every movement, feeling certain that the latter was too great a coward to strike him while he was on guard.
The captain glared savagely at the only member of his crew who dared to openly defy him, but seemed uncertain how to act. Perhaps it was fortunate for both of them that in this emergency their attention was directed from each other by a third shot from the cutter. This time the range was so perfect that the hurtling missile passed through the schooner’s main-topsail, in which it tore a jagged hole.