saw
them coming with drawn pistols.

"Blow me if it ain't the bally pressman!" said Long Jim, stopping within
a hundred feet and peering through the tree. "That's Trenholm there, or
I'm a Dutchman!"

"That's who it is," I called to them, cocking my pistol. "Come on and see
what you get!"

"You're in the _Kut Sang_" said Petrak queerly, his knees shaking as if
he had seen a ghost. "You're dead in the _Kut Sang_!"

"Have it your own way," I told him. "Maybe I am dead in the _Kut Sang_,
along with Captain Riggs and the rest of them. For that very reason you
had better not bother with me."

I kept my pistol resting in the hollow of a hemp-stalk, thinking it would
be better not to let them know I had a weapon, for I knew they had no
more relish for using their firearms than I did. If I showed the gun to
them they would then keep in cover, and could attack me from two sides.

If I could keep it a short-range fight, I had the advantage as long as I
held the tree against them, and they would not hesitate to expose
themselves to my fire.

"What ye doin' of 'ere?" demanded Long Jim. "Where's the skipper and all
the rest we left aboard?"

"That's for you to find out," I said. "You wouldn't shoot a helpless man,
would you?"

"Not a bit of it," he grinned. "Come on out and 'ave a bit of a parley."

He let his pistol drop, and he and Petrak exchanged glances which
betrayed their glee at having me in their power, as they thought.

"Go away and let me alone," I said, simulating fear of them. "I don't
want to have anything to do with you. Leave me alone."

"Ye was a follerin' of us," said Long Jim. "Where the bloomink 'ell ye
been? Ye seen Thirkle?"

"Where is Thirkle?"

"Where ye'll never clap eyes on 'im, ye can be bloody well sure of that.
Cut round t'other side of 'im, Red, and we'll settle 'is 'ash!"

Petrak started off to the left of him to circle and get behind me, and
Long Jim began to draw near, cocking his pistol again and raising it and
leering at me.

"Don't ye turn about or move!" he said. "Turn yer 'ead and yer a dead
'un!"

He was within five yards of me, and I saw him making a signal to Petrak,
who was approaching me from behind. I glanced back quickly and saw the
little red-headed man stealing up on me with his knife on his hand.

I lifted the pistol, and saw Long Jim stop and open his mouth in
surprise. I fired at the triangle of his naked breast where the shirt was
unbuttoned from the neck. He