he answer came--

"Right!"

"Good," replied Joe. "Lower down that light. We must use that--if we
fire. But we want fresh charges, and there will be no more here."

There was a quick search made, but without result, and Joe Cross stood
silent for a few moments.

"Well," cried the doctor, "why don't you send below, to the magazine?"

"Cabin hatch is closed, sir, and some of the slavers are below. This
way, my lads--cutlashes. We must have them out."

"Of course!" cried Rodd excitedly, and Morny uttered a suppressed hiss,
as he pressed forward, sword in hand.

"Yes, gentlemen," said Joe; "it's their doing, and they must chance the
crocs, for we must clear the vessel before it's broad day."

At that moment there was a crashing sound as if the cabin hatch was
being forced open, and as Joe Cross, followed by the rest, dashed aft,
there was a yell, a rush, and some eight or ten of the mongrel enemy
forced their way on deck, to be met at once by the schooner's crew, who
charged at them as men-of-war's men know how to charge.

There was a short encounter, the clash of steel against steel, and the
fresh-comers who had taken refuge below began to give way, and in a
couple of minutes more the deck was once more cleared, the splashing and
plunging of swimming men making for the rapidly dimming light of the
next schooner being followed by more blood-curdling yells and groans,
mingled with cries for help, while a few minutes later a boat could be
faintly seen and efforts were evidently being made to drag the swimmers
on board.

"Now then for the gun!" cried Joe.

"What are you going to do?" asked Rodd, who with Morny kept close to the
coxswain's side.

"Fight, sir," replied Cross fiercely, "before they begin to fight us.
See to the other guns, my lads. The way's open to the magazine now.
It'll be light directly, and that Spanish skipper won't leave us long
before he begins.--There, what did I say?"

For all at once the meaning of the Spaniards' orders, enforced by a
pistol shot, was explained by a bright flash, the roar of a heavy gun,
and the whistle of a shot just over the speaker's head.

A dead silence now fell for a few moments upon the deck of the _Maid of
Salcombe_. There was a little bustle of preparation, and then a period
of waiting, during which Joe Cross carefully sighted the loaded gun,
depressing her muzzle all he could, the two lads the while listening
excitedly to the stir and orders which came