212 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

could see clearly all that was on the deck of the brig, and,
mentally bracing himself for the struggle which was to
come, he shattered the slats of the shutter with one of
Eliphalet’s rolling-pins.

There were but three men to be seen when the barrier
was thus removed, — the two coolies and Jolly Bart.

He could have no compunction in shooting either of
these three down, for he knew they were dangerous char-
acters, in whose word no reliance could be placed.

The mutineers had turned on hearing the crash of the
wood-work, and before they could have satisfied them-
selves as to what caused the noise, Ben fired at the coolie
standing nearest him.

His aim was not as deadly as he had hoped it would be.

The ball struck the fellow on the right shoulder, spin-
ning him around like a top, and thoroughly disabling his
arm, as could be seen when he attempted to recover his
balance.

Then one, two, three bullets speeded forward in rapid
succession ; but only one of them found its mark.

Bart was brought to the deck by a ball in the knee, and
the second Manilaman sought refuge on the opposite side
of the foremast.

Now it was Ben’s turn to act as a target, and he
learned beyond a question that there was at least one
revolver in the hands of the mutineers.

The coolie fired twice in rapid succession, but, owing to
the fact that he did not dare come out from his sheltered
position in order to take aim, his bullets went wide of