The two brave defenders were forced down the cabin stairs, and the gaucheros piled upon them.
They would have been killed in a twinkling, but the voice of the villain Vane rose above the fight:
“Don’t kill ‘em, boys! Capture ‘em alive! I’ve got use for ‘em!”
So Barney and Pomp were overwhelmed wholly by weight of numbers.
Thrown down, they were quickly bound and helpless.
Harding groaned in despair.
“It is all my stupidity!” he cried. “I should not have palavered so long with the dirty crew!”
“Och hone! an’ phwat will we iver do now?” bemoaned Barney. “Shure, the spalpeens have the best av us!”
“Massy sakes alibe!” wailed Pomp; “it was jes’ an unlucky day fo’ us when de air-ship struck dat are storm.”
As for Vane, he was elated.