Had he had his assistants by his side, the detective could have held off these powerful seafaring men to the end.
But all he had was Mike Corrigan, and poor Mike had been put out of commission by a bullet.
So it came that even the iron physique of the great detective weakened under the strain of the last half hour.
On the other hand, the sailors were fresh. Moreover, furious at the fall of their superior officer, the first mate, they determined to avenge him at all hazards.
The two men made a rush at Nick Carter side by side, and though he sent forth a hailstorm of blows, which seemed to fairly smother them, they contrived, by shameless “covering up,� to keep on their feet, until, by sheer weight, they forced the detective to his knees.
Still fighting, he was sent forward on his face.
He had been beaten, seven against one, almost into unconsciousness!
Almost—but not quite.
He lay still, on the ground, face downward, but keeping a sharp eye on what might be going on around him.