o helped by
some of the men from the boat. But a part of the attacking force had
gained cover and the fire was not now so effective.

Nevertheless the rush of the Mexicans was checked, and under the
directions of Roylston the reloading of the schooner was proceeding
rapidly. They hoisted the last of the powder and rifles over the side,
and two of the boats were putting back for the defenders. The schooner,
meanwhile, had taken in her anchor and was unfurling her sails. Roylston
was in one of the boats and, springing upon the bank, he shouted to the
defenders:

"Come, lads! The supplies are all back on board! It's for your lives
now!"

All the men instantly abandoned the defence and rushed for the bank, the
Panther uttering a groan of anger.

"I hate to leave six good horses to Urrea, an' that gang," he said, "but
I s'pose it has to be done."

"Don't grieve, Panther," cried Smith. "We'll take three for one later
on!"

"Hurry up! Hurry up!" said Roylston. "There is no time to waste. Into
the boats, all of you!"

They scrambled into the boats, reached the schooner, and pulled the
boats to the deck after them. There was not a minute to lose. The
schooner, her sails full of wind, was beginning to move, and the
Mexicans were already firing at her, although their bullets missed.

Ned and Will Allen threw themselves flat on the deck, and heard the
Mexican bullets humming over their heads. Ned knew that they were still
in great danger, as it was a mile to the open sea, and the Mexicans
galloping along by the side of the cove had begun a heavy fire upon the
schooner. But the Panther uttered a tremendous and joyous shout of
defiance.

"They can't hurt the ship as long as they ain't got cannon," he said,
"an' since it's rifles, only, we'll give it back to 'em!"

He and the other sharpshooters, sheltering themselves, began to rake the
woods with rifle fire. The Mexicans replied, and the bullets peppered
the wooden sides of the schooner or cut holes through her sails. But the
Texans now had the superiority. They could shelter themselves on the
ship, and they were also so much better marksmen that they did much
damage, while suffering but little themselves.

The schooner presently passed between the headlands, and then into the
open sea. She did not change her course until she was eight or ten miles
from land, when she turned northward.

CHAPTER XX

THE CRY FOR VENGEANCE

As soon as the schooner was out of