"Scott raised the saw in readiness for action."
"Don't fire, fellows, if you can help it," said Louis to his followers, for the worst the smugglers were likely to do was to use the Salihé to tow their schooner down to Carnero Point, a distance of about five miles, and he could not feel that his party would be justified in killing the assailants.
He spoke in a low tone so that Gray could not hear him, for he was still disposed to use the revolvers for their moral effect, and he did not believe that even the Scotchman would be willing to stand up in the face of a dozen and a half of bullets that might be shot into his head. Louis was filled with admiration at the pluck which Scott exhibited, for he had not expected it of him. Still levelling blows at the Scotchman with the saw, the pilot drove him aft, hitting him once in the face, for he was not as tender of the enemy as his leader was.
Gray defended himself as well as he could, avoiding most of the blows by dodging them, or warding them off with his arm. Near the standing-room he found a spare tiller, kept for use in case the wheel should be disabled in the pilot-house. As he stooped to take it from the brackets, he received the cut in his face, which maddened him more than any other he had received. With this weapon he rushed upon the pilot, and the efficiency of the saw was somewhat neutralized, though Scott continued to wield it vigorously as he retreated upon his companions.
In the first of the struggle Gray had called upon the Spaniards to board the steamer, which they had done, and now the whole five of the smugglers were on the deck of the Salihé. The situation looked very discouraging to Louis when he saw that the enemy had obtained a foothold, and he realized that he ought to have menaced those in the boat with the revolvers of his party. But he could not have reached the standing-room directly without passing the Scotchman, who would have disputed his passage.
The Spaniards disappeared behind the cabin; but in a minute more they fell upon the rear of the party, and made them prisoners.
CHAPTER VII
THE BIG FOUR AS PRISONERS IN THE CABIN
Louis Belgrave had taken it for granted that the Spaniards would move forward to the support of the Scotchman, who was doing better with the aid of the tiller in his encounter with Scott. He expected the attack would be made in front, and while he was considering whether or not his party should use their revolvers, the smugglers fell upon Felix and himself in the rear, for he had sent Morris to the wheel, and they were tightly hugged, with their arms pinned to their sides by the four Spaniards.