As they reached the main cellar a terrible surprise awaited them, in the form of a horde of the pirates.
They were headed by Captain Diavolo.
Every one of the rascals carried a weapon, and the Terror pointed at the startled trio, and yelled:
“Halt!”
“Trapped!” gasped Frank.
“By golly!” said the coon; “dis am an ambush!”
“That’s the end of us!” said Zamora, bitterly.
It was very evident that the rascals had been hidden in the castle, had seen them coming, and now expected to kill or capture them, for every weapon was pointed their way.
For a full minute a deathly silence ensued.
Then the pirate captain roared: