my craft. It had struck Bronson in the head. The
_Richard_ had drifted backward. Hawkins had thrown out an anchor. That
was all. Gregory examined Bronson while Hawkins was speaking. The man
was not badly injured. But his loss would be a serious one. Without the
speed-boat, Gregory would be greatly handicapped. He set his jaw grimly
in the darkness. He could not afford to tie up the _Richard_. He would
run her himself. Directing Hawkins to pull the anchor, he slid into
Bronson's seat and focused the rays of his flash-light on the
speed-boat's starting mechanism.

"Are you going to try to run her?" Hawkins inquired as he tugged at the
hook.

"I am going to run her. Bronson showed me how. It's taking some chance
of course. But not so much as tying her up. We've got to have the
_Richard_, Bill. That's all there is to it."

Gregory started the motor and, proceeding at quarter-speed, set off to
take Bronson to the _Curlew_. By so doing, he realized, he could
accomplish a dual purpose, find out about the safety of Dickie Lang and
leave the boatman in her care. That, he reflected, would give her a
safer though more inactive role.

The girl greeted him from the rail of the _Curlew_. Not a man had been
scratched aboard her vessel. Her craft had held the pivot and twisted
two of the alien boats until they bumped the reef. A man had been
reported injured on the _Falcon_.

Placing Bronson in the dory, Gregory directed the skiff to be pulled
aboard the _Curlew_. Then he climbed over the rail with Hawkins.

"Bronson was hurt by a flying bottle," he explained. "Will you look
after him? I've got to round up the boys and see what's doing."

"You're hurt yourself," Dickie observed as the rays of the cabin lamp
fell upon Gregory's face.

"Just a scratch," he said quickly. "If you'll look out for Bronson I'll
be off."

Dickie Lang whirled about. "Look out for this man, Jack. See you later,
Jones. I'm going with Mr. Gregory."

Reluctantly Gregory consented to allow the girl to accompany him in the
_Richard_. An instant later they were on their way to round up the
fleet.

Injuries were few among the crews of the defending vessels. Bruises and
cuts summed up the physical damage done by Mascola's men. One of the
boats was leaking, but Sorenson was holding the water easily with the
pumps. The _Falcon's_ shaft was sprung but the propeller was still
turning. To a man, the various captains reported that their men had
obeyed instructi