He was just in time to find himself face to face with his deadliest enemy; and the knife was hissing through the air.
CHAPTER IV.
IN COMMAND OF THE PRIZE.
It was a moment of horrible peril. Clif's blood fairly froze. But quick as a flash his arm shot up.
And he caught the descending wrist; for an instant the two glared into each other's eyes, straining and twisting. And then the two sailors of the Uncas leaped forward and seized the baffled Spaniard.
And almost in the twinkling of an eye-lid, Clif Faraday was saved. He could hardly realize what had happened, and he staggered back against the railing of the vessel and gasped for breath.
But that was only for a moment, too; and then the blood surged back to his cheeks and the cadet was himself once more.
He stepped forward, a calm smile playing about his mouth.