DISAGREEABLE VISITORS. 69

more natives were secreted on board, Ben would have
said the forepeak was tenantless.

«Stand steady there, Eliphalet, and hold the lantern
as low as you can. I’m going to shoot at random once
or twice, and see what I can bring out.”

As he spoke, Ben discharged two chambers of his re-
volver in rapid succession.

Before the sound of the reports had fairly died away
there was a scream of terror, a scrambling of footsteps,
and three half-naked, villainous -looking Chinamen were
facing him, brandishing their knives fiercely, and dancing
to and fro to prevent him from taking accurate aim.

«Stand by with that lantern!’ Ben shouted, and, at
the same instant darting forward quickly, dealt one of the
intruders a left-handed blow, which brought him to the
deck half stunned.

Terrified though old Eliphalet was, he managed to hold
the lantern in such a manner that the young captain could
keep his adversaries in view, and at the muzzle of the
revolver he forced them to stand by the side of their
prostrate companion.

“Now throw down those knives!” he shouted.

It is doubtful if the men fully understood the words ;
but the gesture which he made was sufficiently expressive,
and in an instant the weapons dropped to the deck, Ben
crying to the steward :

“Lower the lantern, and get into the carpenter’s room
for some pieces of ratline stuff! Don’t let the grass grow
under your feet! We've got no time to waste here!”