ffort could withdraw it. I had stepped aside, and, although taking a
knife wound in my thigh, slipped a blade through the fellow. But still
they bore us back, and I knew in my inmost mind, where instinct rather
than thought moved now, that it was time to think of the _boudoir_ and
my promise. We were being driven in that direction, and if I could only
reach the handle I had resolved what to do.

But now it seemed again that I must be doomed to break my word, for how
was it possible to resist that onset? There were, so far as I could
guess, a dozen of the mutineers, but it was that fact possibly that
helped us a little, as, owing to their numbers, they impeded one
another. Prince Frederic was a marvellous swordsman, and he swept a
passage clear before him; but at last his blade snapped in the middle,
and he was left defenceless. I saw some one rush at him, and, the light
gleaming on his face, I recognised Pierce. With my left hand I hurled
my revolver into it with all the power of my muscles. It struck him
full in the mouth, that ugly, lipless mouth which I abhorred. He
uttered a cry of pain and paused for a moment. But in that moment,
abstracted from my own difficulties, I had given a chance to one of my
opponents, whose uplifted knife menaced me. I had no time to draw back,
and if I ducked I felt I should go under and be trodden upon by the
feet of the infuriated enemy. Once down, I should never rise again. It
seemed all over for me as well as for the Prince, and in far less time
than it takes to relate this the thought had flashed into my
head--flashed together with that other thought that the Princess would
wait, and wait for me in vain. Ah, but would she wait? If I knew her
fine-tempered spirit she would not hesitate. She had the means of her
salvation; she carried it in her bosom, and feared not. No, I could not
be afraid for her.

As I have said, these reflections were almost instantaneous, and they
had scarcely passed in a blaze of wonder through my brain when the
yacht lurched heavily, the deck slipped away from us, and the whole
body of fighting, struggling men was precipitated with a crash against
the opposite wall. Some had fallen to the floor, and others crawled
against the woodwork, shouting oaths and crying for assistance. I had
fallen with the rest, and lay against a big fellow whose back was
towards me. I struggled from him and was climbing the slope of the
deck, when she righted herself and rolled shar