Just before midnight the Independencia raised steam, and at a bare ten knots plugged laboriously through the water. The Hetty was left astern. The last Fielding saw of her was that the crew were engaged in setting the canvas that the gale had spared. It was not much of a spread, but with the wind in its present quarter there was every prospect of the whaler fetching the Gulf of St. Lawrence or one of the harbours on the Newfoundland coast.
The young officers realised that now was the opportunity to recapture the cruiser. Numerically the pirates were stronger, but by the noise on deck the Englishmen knew that they were for the most part indulging in a drunken orgy.
Just before dawn Mukyima and Hokosuka crept through the ports and hoisted themselves on deck. They were able to discern that most of the men were below, a few being on watch on the quarter-deck, two being stationed at the half-deck ladder; but so lax was their vigilance that the two Japs made a careful examination of the mode of securing the hatches. The only thing that prevented the steel hatches from being opened from the inside was an iron bar lashed at each end to massive ring-bolts in the deck. Lying prone by the side of the hatchway coamings the Japs quietly severed the ropes, then retraced their course, and, through General Oki's interpretation, announced that the hatches were ready to be forced open from the inside.
But Fielding hesitated to commence the attack by means of the companion ladders. The noise occasioned by the raising of the steel slabs would arouse their antagonists, and before a sufficient number of the attackers could emerge there was a strong possibility that the superior numbers of the crew would gain the day.
Accordingly he selected ten men, including the two Japs, who had just returned from their tour of investigation. These he was to lead out by the ports on to the deck, where they were to take cover until the main body of the attackers removed the hatches. The rest of the hostages were divided into two parties; one, under Cardyke, was to take the fore-ladder for the half-deck; the other, under Hiram B. Rutter, was detailed to the after-ladder. Both sections were to rush on deck simultaneously, Fielding and his men covering their advance by a rapid revolver fire.
Unseen and unheard Fielding's little band crept one by one through the port-hole and gained the deck. Abaft the rearmost turret the deck was deserted, the men detailed to guard the hatchways having strolled for'ard to smoke. A continuous roar of ribald laughter announced that the majority of the pirates still on board were trying to forget their desperate plight in grog.
Taking shelter behind cowls and coamings, the sub.'s division waited while their leader gave the pre-arranged signal—three slight taps upon the deck. Instantly the steel cover of the fore-companion was heaved back, and Cardyke at the head of his party dashed through the opening. The after-hatch was opened a bare quarter of a minute later; then with a united shout the whole band rushed forward.
Taken entirely by surprise the men on watch made but a feeble resistance. A few shots were fired without effect; two of the pirates were felled by successful blows of Fielding's hammer-like fists, and the rest broke and fled.
Disturbed at the carouse, the crew for'ard bolted, for the most part, like terrified sheep, with the victorious crowd at their heels.
Suddenly one of the fugitives wheeled, and, levelling a revolver, fired at the pursuers. Fielding pitched forward and lay writhing.