224 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

« About as usual. I am beginning to think perhaps the
hurt was n’t as bad as it might have been.”

“Tf that’s the case we shall have come out of the scrape
better than at one time seemed possible, for —”’

He was interrupted by the rapid discharge of firearms,
followed by hoarse cries of rage, and a sound as of some
one leaping heavily up on the deck.

Running quickly to the pantry, a single glance was
sufficient to show him the cause of the disturbance.

Bob had wounded his man, and, believing the latter’s
stock of ammunition was exhausted, jumped from the
window of the pantry to bring the battle to a speedy
conclusion.

When Ben arrived where he could have a view of the
scene, the sailor was pursuing the coolie, who had gone
up the fore-rigging, as if fancying in that direction he
might find some avenue of escape.

“Don’t shoot him!” Ben cried, as the sailor levelled
his revolver at the bleeding wretch who stood half-way to
the foretop, hesitating whether to continue on. ‘Don’t
shoot him! I want the satisfaction of taking the scoundrel
into port!”

“That you shall never have!” the fellow cried, in what
was more like the snarl of an enraged beast than the
voice of a human being. “1’d give my life to put a bullet .
through your head.”

« And I’ll soon put one through yours if you don’t come
down from there,” Ben shouted, following Bob’s example
in the manner of leaving the pantry, and running forward.