A DEMAND. 189

The group of combatants near the forecastle hatch was
all he could see, and to approach them single-handed would
have been in the highest degree foolhardy; therefore he
remained at his point of vantage waiting an opportunity
to find a mark for a bullet, but not daring to shoot indis-
criminately into the mass of struggling humanity.

First one man and then another detached himself from
the group, coming aft at full speed, and Ben, covering
both with his revolvers to guard against possible treach-
ery, saw that they were the sailors in whom he had most
confidence among the crew.

“Go below!” he cried; « Miss Dunham will find weap-
ons for you! Get back here as soon as possible! Our
lives depend on it!”

Then two others came quickly aft, one armed with a
handspike, and the other with what appeared to be a naked
knife.

They ran swiftly as if fearing for their lives, and then,
apparently without any deliberation, one approached either
side of the house.

“Look out there!” Ben shouted, warningly, raising
both his revolvers. ‘This is no time to come in such a
fashion, without telling who you are. I don’t propose to
be caught between the two of you.”

“It may be death to stop for explanations,” the fellow
on the port side cried, Ben recognizing the voice as that of
one of the men toward whom no suspicions had been
directed; but the sailor on the starboard hand remained
silent.