ng cautiously through the
darkness, the next, without a sound to warn them, there was a rush;
blows fell thick and fast, cudgel striking head, cutlass, shoulder,
anything that opposed the advance; and in less time than it takes to
describe the encounter, the sailors were beaten down or aside, and the
party of four, who were warned of what to expect by the noise in their
front, advanced to the help of their friends, but only to be beaten down
or aside by the gang which rushed at them.

"Stop them, Dick. Down with them!" shouted the master, as soon as he
could get on his feet. "Hi, Dick! Pass the word to the bo's'n to look
out. Here, Mr Raystoke! Hi, bo's'n, down with that trap and make it
fast. Mr Raystoke, I say, where are you? Which way is it? Who's
this?"

"No, no, sir," cried one of them; "it's on'y me."

"Mr Gurr! Here!" cried Archy. "Where are you?"

"At last. Where were you, then?"

"On the stones, half stunned," cried Archy. "Here, all get together and
follow me."

"What are you going to do?"

"Make for the trap-door--sharp! They're fighting there."

"Oh, dear, who'd have thought it was this way!" grumbled the master.
"Talk about blind man's buff! Sure you're going right, lad? Shall I
fire a pistol to make a flash?"

"No; I know."

"Hah!" cried Gurr, as an echoing bang ran through the great cavern.
"Bravo, bo's'n!"

The bang was followed by a heavy rattling sound perfectly familiar to
Archy, as he hurried the master along to the foot of the slope.

"Are you all there?" cried Archy.

"Yes,"--"No,"--"No," came from different directions.

"Then keep up this way, and be ready for another rush."

"Ay," cried the master loudly; "and I warn you fellows now, I'd have
treated you easy; but if you will have it, the word's war, and a volley
of bullets next time you come on."

"No, no, don't fire! You'll hit our own men," whispered Archy, as he
reached the top of the slope. "Ah! Who's this?" he cried, as he nearly
fell over a prostrate figure.

"Steady, my lad, steady!"

"Steady it is," said another voice.

"What, bo's'n?"

"Yes, sir, and me too. Oh, my head! How it bleeds!"

"Why, what are you doing here?"

"They came at us, sir, like mad bulls, and 'fore I knew where I was they
had me. Pair o' hands pops up out of the hole, takes hold of my legs,
and I was pulled down, had a crack of the head, was danced on, and here
I am, sir."

"And me too, sir," said the other voice.