unning
hastily into one of the cabins brought forth a table and used it to
strengthen the barricade. Prince Frederic, observing this, nodded and
gave instructions to Lane, who went on a similar errand on behalf of
the other door.

Crash fell the axe on my door, and the wood splintered. Lane and Prince
Frederic were busy firing through the loopholes, with what result I
could not guess, and probably they themselves knew little more.
Barraclough stood at his peephole and fired now and then, and I did the
same through the holes drilled in my door. But it must have been easy
for any one on the outside to avoid the line of fire if he were
careful. I was reminded that two could play at this game by a bullet
which sang past my face and buried itself in the woodwork behind me.
The light was now failing fast, and we fought in a gloaming within
those walls, though without the mutineers must have seen better. The
axe fell again and again, and the door was giving in several places.
Once there was a respite following on a cry, and I rejoiced that one of
my shots had gone home. But the work was resumed presently with
increased vigour.

And now of a sudden an outcry on my left startled me. I turned, and saw
Prince Frederic in combat with a man, and beyond in the twilight some
other figures. The door to the deck had fallen. Leaving my own door to
take care of itself, I hastened to what was the immediate seat of
danger, and shot one fellow through the body. He fell like a bullock,
and then the Prince gave way and struck against me. His left arm had
dropped to his side, but in his right hand he now held a sword, and,
recovering, he thrust viciously and with agility before him. Before
that gallant assault two more went down, and as Lane and Barraclough
seemed to be holding their own, it seemed almost as if we should get
the better of the attack. But just then I heard rather than saw the
second door yielding, and with shouts the enemy clambered over the
table and were upon us from that quarter also. Beneath this combined
attack we slowly gave way and retreated down the corridor, fighting
savagely. The mutineers must have come to the end of their ammunition,
for they did not use revolvers, but knives and axes. One ruffian, whom
in the uncertain light I could not identify, bore a huge axe, which he
swung over his head, and aimed at me with terrific force. As I dodged
it missed me and crashed into the woodwork of the cabins, from which no
e