to the swamp with us, did you,
you damn snooper? Well, you're going in there--to stay."

The scarred man thrust forward a noosed rope.

"Put your hands in that, you damn snooper."

"Put 'em in," growled the captain, "or I'll shoot your ears off."

Davis made a pretense of obeying, caught the rope holder about the
middle and rushed him at the captain. So swift and skillful was his
move that ere the lethargic captain could move he found himself pinned
against the rail. With one hand Davis flung his human shield aside
while the other leaped up and caught the captain's gun hand. His
disengaged hand slipped inside his shirt; and then two men leaped like
wolves upon his back.

"He's got a gun on him! Look out!"

The mulatto's thick arm was about Davis' throat, dragging him back, yet
he managed to give the captain's wrist a sharp twist which flung the
revolver high in the air to drop with a splash into the river ere he
fell in a tangle with his assailants to the deck.

"Look out! He's strong's a bear! He's got a gun! Kick his head,
somebody! Kick his head!"

In their little coop forward, from which they saw it all, Payne looked
at Higgins. Higgins returned the look.

"He's a white man against four."

"Come on, Hig!"

With a kick Payne sent the door flying and crawled out on deck.

The captain saw him and sprang for an ax. Roger caught him in a leap,
flung him aside and threw the ax overboard.

Higgins kicked, struck and pulled at the pile on Davis and saved him
from being kicked unconscious or killed, and suddenly found himself on
the deck with the pile on top of him. Payne came to his rescue. A few
seconds of rough work and they were up on their feet, fighting
furiously.

"Look! He's getting away!" The captain pointed at Davis who, in the
melee, had leaped overboard and was in the canoe pushing his way into
the jungle.

"Quitting?" demanded Payne.

"Got to. Explain later."

The mangrove branches closed behind him and he was gone. Roger turned
to face the captain, who was furious.

"How'd you get on this boat?"

"Crawled on."

"Who be ye?"

"Land buyers."

"Get off this boat."

"Go to hell."

A long curved knife appeared in the captain's hand; and the crew behind
him smiled in horrible anticipation. He came crouching sideways toward
Payne, the knife held point forward ready for the spring and upward
thrust, which, with the body weight behind it, would drive the long
blade th