Swiftly he raised his rifle to his shoulder to shoot down his foes, but agile as a panther, Manuel sprang under the rifle, striking it up as he rose.
Bang!
The weapon exploded, but the shot did no harm.
Instantly three Spaniards threw themselves on the sentry, tearing his rifle from his hands, and taking his cutlass from his side.
"Hold him fast!" shouted Manuel, as he made for the magazine. "That shot will arouse the entire ship, and there is no time to be lost!"
"If they attack?"
"Shoot them down. Keep them in check for two minutes. That is all I ask!"
It was no time to waste in talking. If this desperate plot was to succeed, it must be carried out instantly. Already Manuel was at the magazine.
He took a key from his pocket.
"They've not changed the locks, so this must fit. Ah!" he said, as he inserted the key. "I thought so. Victory! Victory! We've played a bold game and won!"