BESIEGED. 199

he how necessary it was he should retain the possession
of his faculties, for the position of affairs was such that
even a dying man might be of some assistance before the
struggle came to an end.

There was very little the steward could do for the suf-
ferer; but his presence in the room prevented the neces-
sity of some other member of the small party spending
any time in attendance upon the patient, and this in itself
was quite an important item.

A revolver was found in Mr. Rogers’s apartment, and
with it seventy-five or an hundred cartridges.

Ben had his own weapon, and also the one formerly
owned by Captain Dunham; but his supply of ammuni
tion was not as great as it would have been but for the
engagement at Nampang Island.

Miss Dunham was armed with her own revolver and a
goodly number of cartridges, while Mr. Bean would retain
his weapon in case it should be necessary to defend himself
at short range.

Ben gave Bob the revolver taken from Mr. Rogers’s
chest, and to Sam the one which had belonged to Captain
Dunham.

By this distribution all, save the steward, were fairly
well armed, as compared with the party in possession of
the deck, and, but for the difficulty of leaving their place
of refuge without exposing themselves, the fortunes of
this particular struggle would have been changed very
speedily.

“You won't think of attempting to do anything to-