CHAPTER XXXII
THE BATTLE IN THE FORECASTLE
Making as little disturbance as possible, Drew sank to his armpits inthe pellucid waters, and then began to swim. He believed the shark hadstarted briskly for some other point in the lagoon; but he knew theeyes of the creature were sharp.
All about him, as the young man moved through the water, there weremillions of tiny organisms that would betray his presence, as they hadthe shark's, at the first ripple. These minute infusorians would glowwith the pale gleam of phosphorescence if the water were ruffled.Therefore, he had to swim carefully and slowly, when each second hisnerves cried out for rapid, panic-stricken action.
He came at last to the schooner's stern without mishap. He could seeher tall hull and taller spars above him. There was no light in theafter part of the vessel; nor was there even a riding light. Themutineers whom Ditty had left aboard had evidently thrown off alldiscipline.
Finding no line hanging from the rail aft, Drew swam around theschooner to her bows. Here was the anchor chain, and up this heclambered nimbly to the rail.
Cautiously he raised his head above the rail and looked about him.There was a light in the forecastle, but most of the deck was in deepshadow. Very slowly he pulled himself inboard and dropped down in thebows. Then, on hands and knees and avoiding any spot of light, hecrept noiselessly toward the forecastle and looked in.
By the light of the lamp swinging in its gimbals, he could see five menseated on the floor with their hands tied behind them. At a littledistance two other men were seated, both with revolvers thrust in theirbelts.
The nearest of the guards was talking at the moment, and Drew easilyheard what was said.
"You're a bloomin' fool, I tell you, Trent," he was saying to one ofthe prisoners. "Ditty has got the old man dead to rights. Theafter-guard hain't got the ghost of a chance. You'd better pitch in antake your luck along with the rest of us."
"You're a lot of bloody murderers," growled the one addressed, "andyou'll swing for this business yet."
"Not as much chance of our swingin' as there is of you gittin' whatSanders got," retorted the other. "He's 'bout eat up by the sharks bythis time. An' when Ditty comes back with the loot; he ain't goin' tolet you live to peach on 'im. No, siree, he ain't. Dead men tell notales."
Drew waited no longer. He had no weapon with him, not even a knife.But he counted on the advantage of surprise. He gathered himselftogether, and, with the agility of a panther, leaped upon the shouldersof the man seated beneath him. They went to the deck with a crash.The fellow was stunned by the shock, and lay motionless; but Drew wason his feet in a second.
The other mutineer leaped up, but when he saw the white and drippingfigure of the unexpected visitor he dropped the automatic and fell backagainst the mess table, shaking and with his hands before his eyes.
"It's a ghost!" yelled Trent, no less frightened than the others, butmore voluble. "It's Sanders been an' boarded us!"
The prisoners, crowded together on the deck of the forecastle, glaredat the apparition of the naked man in horror. After all, the mutineerhad the most courage.
"Blast my eyes!" he suddenly shouted. "Sanders wasn't never so big ashim; 'nless he's growed since he was sent to the sharks."
He sprang forward to peer into Drew's face. The latter's fist shot outand landed resoundingly on the fellow's jaw.
"Nor he don't hit like Sanders, by mighty!" yelled the fellow. "Norlike no ghost. It's that blasted Drew--I knows 'im now."
"And you're going to know more about me directly," said Drew, betweenhis teeth, following the fellow up for a second blow.
But the mutineer had recovered himself, both in mind and body. He wasa big, beefy chap, weighing fifty pounds heavier than Drew, despite thelatter's bone and muscle. No man, no matter how well he can spar, canafford to give away fifty pounds in a rough and tumble fight and expectnot to suffer for it.
The fellow put up a good defense, and Drew suddenly became aware thathe himself was at a terrible disadvantage. He was a naked man againstone clothed and booted. He could defend himself from the flail-likeblows of his antagonist and could get in some of his own swift hooksand punches. But when he was at close quarters the fellow played adeadly trick on him.
As Drew stepped in to deliver a short-armed jolt to the mutineer'shead, the latter took the punishment offered, but, with all his weight,stamped on Drew's unprotected foot.
The groan that this forced from the young man's lips brought adiabolical grin to the mutineer's face. Even the satisfaction ofchanging that grin to a bloody smear, as he did the very next moment bygiving a fearful blow to the mouth, did not relieve Drew's pain.
He had to keep the fellow at arm's length, and that was notadvantageous to his own style of fighting. He could make a betterrecord in close-up work. But the mutineer wore heavy sea-boots, andDrew already felt himself crippled. His own footwork was spoiled. Helimped as badly as had Tyke Grimshaw for a while.
There was not room for a fair field in the crowded forecastle, at best.The big sailor was very wary about stepping near the five prisoners,but he forced Drew, time and again, against the body of the prone andunconscious man on the deck. Three times his naked antagonist all butsprawled over this obstruction.
In fact, Drew was not getting much the best of it, although few of themutineer's blows landed. This fighting at arm's length never yetbrought a quick decision. And that was what Allen Drew was strivingfor. For all he knew, Ditty might take it into his head to come off tothe schooner before bedtime. If he were caught in this plight, hewould be utterly undone.
This thought harried the young man's very soul. All he had risked inswimming out to the schooner would go for nothing. Not only would hisobject in coming fail of consummation, but if Ditty caught him, thebesieged party up on the side of the whale's hump would lose its bestshot.
Thus convinced of the necessity for haste, Drew suddenly rushed in. Hestifled a cry as the heavy boot crunched down on his foot once again.This was no time for fair fighting. He seized his antagonist by thecollar of his shirt, jerked him forward, and at the same time planted aright upper-cut on the point of the jaw.
The fellow crashed to the deck--down and out without a murmur. Drew,panting and limping, leaving a trail of blood wherever he stepped,secured some lengths of spun yarn and tied both mutineers hand and footbefore he gave any attention to the murmuring prisoners.
"Now, men," he said, turning to the five, "you know me. I'm Mr. Drewand I'm no ghost."
"You don't hit like no ghost," grinned Trent. "I'm mighty glad youcome, Mr. Drew. It would have been all up with us when old Bug-eyecome back if you hadn't."
"You're fine fellows and all right to stand up for your captain,"replied Drew; "and you'll find that you've not only been on the rightside, but on the winning side. However, we've got to hurry. Where's aknife?"
"You'll find one in that fellow's belt," said Whitlock, pointing to oneof the mutineers.
Drew secured it and cut the ropes that bound the prisoners. They fellto rubbing their arms and legs to get the blood to circulating.
"As soon as you can move about, get the dinghy ready," directed Drew."Stow in it all the provisions it will hold together with some casks ofwater. And you'd better bring Wah Lee and the Jap along. I've got togo to the captain's cabin, but I'll be back before you're ready.Smart, now, for we don't know what minute Ditty may take a notion tocome aboard."
Drew hurried aft and into his own room where he quickly got into someclothing and bandaged his crushed foot. Then he pushed into thecaptain's stateroom. There was no light there, but he dropped on hishands and knees and felt under the berth.
His hand touched the sharp corner of a box. He dragged it out andhurried up the companionway where he could examine it by the light of alantern. He recognized at once the label of a well-known ammunitioncompany, and knew that these must be the cartridges of which thecaptain had spoken. That box perhaps spelled sal
vation for thetreasure seekers.
With his heart throbbing with elation and tightly clutching theprecious box, Drew hastened to the rail where the men were preparing tolaunch the boat. Wah Lee and Namco stood by, blinking with trueOriental stolidity. They betrayed neither eagerness nor reluctance,nor was there the slightest trace of curiosity. For them it was all inthe day's work.
The seamen heaped in all the provisions and water that the boat wouldhold and still leave room for its occupants. Drew advised muffling theoars, and with barely a sound the craft moved toward the shore.Heavily laden at is was, the progress was slow. They kept cautiouslyout of the zone of light cast by the mutineers' campfire, which now,however, was dying out. Finally the craft grated on the sand.
Under Drew's whispered directions, the men shouldered the stores, andthe party commenced the toilsome march inland to the little fort.
It was fully midnight when they were challenged by the sentinels at theedge of the wood.
"Ahoy, there!" called Drew, hailing the fort.
"Ahoy, yourself!" came back the answer. "Is that you, Allen?"
"Yes. And some friends with me."
"Friends?" There was surprise in the tone. "Who are they?"
"I'll let you see for yourself."
The besieged, whose sleep had been fitful, had all been aroused by thecolloquy, and they crowded to the front of the barricade. The moon hadnow risen, and their faces could be clearly discerned. Ruth lovelierevery time he saw her, Allen thought, stood beside her father.
"Why, it's Whitlock!" cried Captain Hamilton jubilantly. "AndGunther--and Trent--and Ashley--and _Barnes_!" he went on inever-increasing wonderment and excitement, as he recognized theweather-beaten faces. "And blest if here isn't that old heathen, WahLee! And the Jap! Glory hallelujah!"
There was a moment of wild exclamations and handshakings.
"Bully lads!" cried the master of the _Bertha Hamilton_, with deepemotion. "So you broke away and came to help your captain, did you?Good lads."
"We didn't exactly break away, Cap'n," said Gunther. "Though God knowswe wanted to bad enough. But it's Mr. Drew you want to thank for ourbein' here. He done it all."
"I knowed it! I knowed it!" cried Tyke. "I felt it in my bones when Ifirst saw 'em! Glory be!"
"He did it all?" inquired the captain. "What do you mean? Tell us,Allen."
"Oh, there isn't much to tell," replied Drew. "I was lucky enough toreach the schooner and I found the men there with their hands tied. Icut the ropes and brought them along."
"You reached the schooner!" the captain repeated. "How?"
"Did you git the boat from under the eyes of them fellers?" asked Tyke.
"No. I swam over."
"Swam!" ejaculated the captain.
Ruth gave a little shriek and put her hand to her heart.
"Oh!" she cried. "The sharks!"
"Haven't I always told you that boy was a wonder?" chuckled Tyke.
But here Whitlock touched his cap.
"Beggin' your pardon, Cap'n," he said apologetically, "but if Mr. Drewwas as slow with his fists as he is with tellin' his story, meanin' nodisrespec', me an' my mates wouldn't be here."
"Go ahead, Whitlock," said the captain. "It is like pulling teeth toget anything from Mr. Drew."
Whitlock told the story, which lost nothing in the telling.
There was a pause, tense with emotion, and all eyes were turned onDrew. Tyke's hand clapped him on the shoulder, but the old man did nottrust himself to speak. Ruth's eyes were wet, but the tears could notobscure a look that made the young man's heart thump wildly.
"Allen," said the captain, taking his hand, "it was the pluckiest thingI ever heard of. If we get out of this place alive, we shall owe itall to you."
"You make too much of it," disclaimed Drew, red and confused. "Buthadn't we better stow away these things the men have brought along?Here's the box of cartridges I found under your berth."
The captain fairly shouted.
"That puts the cap sheaf on!" he exulted. "Now Ditty and his gang aredone for. They can't come too soon."