se under the stern, all this was shut
out, but the noise increased.

"Now, my lads!" whispered Mark, "we shall take 'em between two fires.
As soon as the blacks see us come they'll fight like fury, and we shall
win. Do you see, Tom Fillot?"

"See, sir? yes. It's all right. We'll have 'em yet. I'll make fast to
the main chains, and then up we go. But don't give the word till I'm
ready, sir. I can fight now."

The preparations took almost less time than the talking, and then,
freshly nerved by the exciting scene on deck, Mark Vandean and his men
climbed on board to collect for a rush, just as the blacks were making a
desperate stand. There in the front were two of the stoutest armed with
capstan bars, and as the crew of the boat were about to dash forward,
these two blacks yelled together and charged at the schooner's men,
striking out so savagely that two of their adversaries went down, and
the next they attacked shrank back.

"Stand aside!" roared the slaver skipper, raising a pistol, but it was
not fired, for as the two blacks whirled their bars about and fought on,
Mark gave a cheer, his men followed suit, and, taking the schooner's
crew in the rear, they were scattered at the first charge.

What followed was a series of furious, short hand-to-hand conflicts, men
being driven in among the blacks, who came on now wild with excitement.
They seized their enemies and, in spite of their struggles, hurled them
overboard to swim for the shore, till only the skipper was left, and he
was being hunted from place of vantage to place of vantage, till he made
a dash and ran down into the cabin. But the biggest of the blacks, one
of the two armed with capstan bars, rushed down after him, followed by
his brave companion, and the next minute there was the sound of a
plunge, evidently from the cabin window.

Mark and Tom Fillot rushed to the stern together, and looked over.

"Have they killed him?" said the midshipman, hoarsely.

"No, sir; he's swimming like a seal--the warmint. He'll reach the
shore. But hadn't you better get us together, sir? The niggers may
have a turn at us now. P'r'aps they don't know we're friends."

"Oh yes they do, Tom; they must have seen how we fought for them." But
all the same the lad gave a long piercing whistle, and his men clustered
about him, ready for the blacks, who were now coming aft in a body.

"It means another fight, sir," whispered Tom. "Can't anybody say in
nigger ling