[Illustration: THE SHOT CAUGHT THE DECOY BEARER JUST BELOW THE KNEE.]
CHAPTER VIII
THE PERIL OF THE VOICE-TUBE
Fielding glanced significantly at his comrades. He was a young man, brave and resolute, and full of life; but the prospect of being mangled in a steel tomb was enough to quail the stoutest heart. Cardyke was deadly pale. He, too, was willing to face ordinary dangers, but the threatened mode of extermination was too horrible to contemplate. Hokosuka and Mukyima, who were ignorant of the nature of the threat, turned and asked General Oki to explain the pirate leader's words. The Japanese officer did so, but whether the three Asiatics felt uneasy or otherwise their stolid features betrayed no sign of their emotions.
Quite five minutes passed. The occupants of the conning-tower did not reply to Cervillo's demand, and the pirate captain began to show signs of impatience.
"Again I say—you vill surrender?"
"No," replied the sub., resolutely. His confidence was beginning to return. Perhaps after all the Spaniard might be only bluffing. Cervillo, although he would not scruple to use the most deadly measures at his command to carry out his ends, quite realised that his hostages were worth more to him alive than dead. He meant to make them his tools to achieve his purpose.
Finding threats were of no avail, he altered his tone and adopted a conciliatory attitude, but to all his advances the men at bay turned a deaf ear—they ignored him absolutely.