is feet and ran for the door.

Rick emerged into the lesser darkness of the deck in time to see Chahda
fire at moving shapes on the water. The Hindu boy's shot was answered by
a dozen rifles, and Rick heard Chahda gasp.

"Pirates!" Chahda yelled. "Where is light?"

For answer, Scotty switched on the boat's searchlight and swiveled it.
Rick shouted. A dozen vintas were closing rapidly, propelled by paddles.
Fleetingly he thought that some sound or sense of danger must have
awakened him, then he grabbed for Shannon's bow, realized in the same
instant that it would do little good in the darkness, and put it back.

Zircon took the pistol from Chahda while Scotty found his rifle. The two
started a steady fire that was returned in ragged volleys as the pirates
tried to shoot out the light. They came close, but the light stood
undamaged. Rick thanked his guardian angel that they were poor shots.

It was obvious that even pistol and rifle fire could not keep the
pirates from boarding. Rick jumped to the controls and started the
engines. If they could only slip the anchor, it might be possible to ram
through the pirate craft and find safety in the open water. But even as
he borrowed Chahda's kris and started to run to the bow to cut the
anchor rope, the first vinta slammed into the torpedo boat.

Dark figures swarmed up the sides with piercing yells. Rick ran to meet
them, swinging the kris.

He realized vaguely that the pirate yells had turned somehow to screams
that seemed anguished, but his thoughts were occupied only with getting
the Moros off the deck. In the faint scattered light at the side of the
searchlight beam he saw that they were dancing, wildly, like Indians in
a TV horse opera!

Scotty joined him in the wild rush up the deck and the two boys hit the
Moros at the same instant. Rick swung the kris like a flail, while the
butt of Scotty's rifle slammed into bodies and heads.

The Moros turned with one accord and went over the side!

Zircon yelled, "Another boat back here!"

But Rick and Scotty had troubles of their own. Moros were pouring onto
the deck from the bow, where another vinta had tied up to the anchor
rope. They ran to meet the new attack, and were astonished to see the
pirates go into the same screaming dance. Then they were fighting again,
Rick wielding the kris with deadly effect, too frantic even to wonder
why the Moros weren't fighting more fiercely.

From the stern came a wild yell from Z