ushing frantically
to the side, followed by his men. "Pitch 'em overboard as fast as they
come up!"

But that was much easier said than done. The boat's crew whipped out
their cutlasses, and when the chief saw the bright blades flashing
before their eyes, he drew back, and wished for the spears he and his
band had used during the attack on the yacht. The Crusoe men all shrank
away from the rail, for the actions of the students indicated that they
were determined to board the schooner in spite of all opposition, and
that they were quite as determined to use their weapons on the first one
who came within their reach. A few flourishes of the cutlasses cleared
the way for them, and before the governor could think twice, the young
tars had gained a footing on the deck.

"Knock them down! Throw them overboard!" exclaimed Tom Newcombe,
retreating with all possible haste toward the forecastle, closely
followed by the students. "O, now, keep your hands off, Dave Richardson,
or I'll get even with you, some day."

The midshipman, not in the least intimidated by the threat, held fast to
Tom's collar, which he had seized with a vice-like grasp, and dragged
him toward the jolly-boat with one hand, while, in the other, he carried
his cutlass, which he kept whistling through the air in a way that made
the Crusoe men give room with alacrity. Close at his heels followed the
boat's crew, ready to resist any attempt that might be made to rescue
their captive. Richardson hurried him across the deck, and the Crusoe
men, astonished at the audacity of their assailants, and afraid to trust
themselves within reach of the gleaming cutlasses, stood in a group on
the forecastle, not knowing what to do. Tom struggled desperately for
his freedom, sometimes planting his feet firmly on the deck, and pulling
back with all his might; then trying to unclasp the strong fingers that
were holding fast to his collar; but finding that his efforts were
wholly in vain, he began to call lustily for assistance.

"Help! help!" he cried. "Lend a hand, can't you? Are you five fellows
going to stand there and let three spooneys capture me?"

These words aroused the governor, who now, for the first time, seemed to
realize the fact that his crew outnumbered that of the enemy, two to
one, and that it would be a cowardly piece of business to allow them to
make a prisoner of one of his men, before his very eyes, and without a
single effort on his part to rescue him. T