"Yes, if you can."
Drawing the rope up to the rail, he chopped it off with a single blow of the hatchet. It dropped on the deck, and was running out when the Scotchman unfortunately discovered what had been done, and seized upon it just before the end of it was going overboard. He could not have done this if Diego and a couple of his companions had not still been holding on at the rail.
Gray held fast at the line, passing it around the small iron davit, to a pair of which a little tender was hoisted up, and made it fast. Then he turned upon the four boys who were in the gangway abreast of the cabin, and he was evidently no longer in favor of gentle measures, for he swore at them in a manner to make a Christian weep.
"I gave you a chance to be decent and earn some money," said he angrily. "You would not listen to me, and now you have lost your chance to make three or four pounds, and I have taken possession of the steamer, and I intend to keep her as long as I please."
"This is piracy!" exclaimed Louis.
"You may call it what you like," replied Gray savagely. "You have had your chance, and now you have lost it. Go forward, every mother's son of you!" And he rushed at them in a body as they stood, with his two fists doubled up as though he intended to annihilate them, and so furiously that those who had revolvers had no chance to use them.
He absolutely fell upon Louis and Felix who were ahead of Morris and Scott, and except the last they all fell back involuntarily, and in a moment more the revolvers were drawn and in readiness for use; but Scott did not budge a foot. He had restored the hatchet to the belt behind him, and had transferred the hand-saw to his right hand. He stood his ground like a brave fellow, for he had a plan in his head upon which he meant to act.
The Scotchman struck at him with his fist, directing the blow at his head; but Scott had raised the saw in readiness for action, and he brought it down upon his assailant's hand with a force which made him howl with pain, and caused him to retreat a pace, while he poured forth a volley of oaths which must have well-nigh exhausted his piratical vocabulary.
