ther and still another. The fight
had begun.

"Come on!" cried Drew excitedly, and he dashed out of the stockade
followed by Parmalee.

Day was just breaking. Overhead the twittering of doves, the squeaking
of parrakeets, the countless sounds of bird and insect life, welcomed
the sun.

But the fusilades of gun shots hushed the clamor of wild life, and sent
the birds and the animals shrieking away from the vicinity.

CHAPTER XXXV

THE SURRENDER--CONCLUSION

Great was the consternation in the little fortress when it was
discovered that Drew was absent. And as the time dragged by and he did
not return, his friends knew that either he had been killed or was a
prisoner in the hands of the mutineers. And if the latter, they knew
only too well what mercy he had to expect from the mate. One murder
more or less was nothing to that scoundrel now.

Grimshaw and Captain Hamilton were abnormally grave, and Ruth's eyes
were wild with anguish and terror. She no longer had any doubt of her
feeling for Allen. She knew that she loved him with all her heart.

At the first sign of daylight, the master of the _Bertha Hamilton_ put
his little band on a war footing. The ammunition was distributed, and
he rejoiced to see how abundant it was. That he had Drew to thank for.
Ruth prepared lint and bandages for the wounded from supplies which
Allen had also brought, then she stood ready to reload the extra rifles
and small arms, or, at need, to use a revolver herself. Her eyes were
clear and dauntless, and if her father looked at her with grave
anxiety, it was also with pride.

Breakfast despatched, the men took the places assigned to them. The
captain had formed his plan of battle.

"They'll rush us after a few volleys," he asserted. "Wait till they
get within thirty feet before you fire. Then let them have it, and aim
low. If they waver, and I think they will, jump over the breastworks
when I give the word, and we'll charge in turn. If we once get them on
the run, they'll never rally and we'll hunt them down like rats until
they surrender. We're going to win, my lads!"

The answer was a cheer, and Captain Hamilton had no doubt as to the
spirit with which his little force was going into the fray.

The outposts came hurrying in with the news that the mutineers were
coming. And not long after, this was confirmed by a spatter of bullets
against the rocks.

The defenders made a spirited reply, and several volle