if called upon he would be
ready to fight for it, and make a dash for liberty.

Those were only momentary thoughts, for we were two lads of sixteen or
seventeen against a gang of strong men who were holding us now, and our
position was hopeless.

Just then our first friend said in a carneying tone--

"There, don't be hard on 'em, mates. They're going to be reasonable.
Now then, are you going to pay those twenty dollars each for your
passages?"

"No," I said, choking with rage.

"Yew don't mean to go in the _Pauliner_?"

"No, we don't," cried Esau.

"Very well, then, yew must each on yew pay the smart. I paid for yew--
ten dollars each, and tew fur my trouble. That's fair, ain't it,
mates?"

"Ay, ay. Make 'em pay three dollars," was chorussed.

"There, yew hear 'em, so out with the spots, and no more nonsents."

"You won't get no money out o' me," cried Esau, fiercely.

"Nor from me," I cried.

"We'll soon see that. Now quick!"

It was broad daylight, but we seemed to be quite alone, and I was being
forced back over a man's knee, when I was jerked up again, and the man
who was holding me went backwards, while a familiar voice said--

"Hullo, boys; seem to be enjoying yourselves."

"Mr Gunson, help!" I cried, as I recognised our shipboard companion;
"these men--"

"I see, my lad, steady. Ah, would you!" For a quick look had passed
among the men, and they were about to make a rush, when Gimson stepped
back and whipped out a revolver.

"Don't come too near, boys," he said. "I'm rather a good shot."

The men stopped short at the sight of the revolver barrel covering first
one and then another. But the first man said "Come on!" with quite a
snarl, drew a knife, and flung himself at Gunson.

I felt a horrible sensation run through me as I listened for the report;
but instead of firing, Gunson struck up with his revolver, and the man
went over sidewise, while our friend now fired over the heads of the
others of the gang.

This stopped them for the moment, but as they saw that no one fell, they
came on again, and one of them seized Gunson before he could fire, or
before he attempted to fire, for, as he told me afterwards, he did not
want to feel that he had killed a man.

In the struggle which followed I saw the pistol drop from our defender's
hand, and one of the men stooped to pick it up, but Esau was too quick
for him. Making quite a leap, as if playing leap-frog, he pitched with
his ha