. The dog leaped up again and tried to
come to the assistance of its master, but turned upon Hodge when he
struck at it again with the maul. Its eyes seemed balls of green fire in
the gloom, and the hoarse growl that came from deep down in its throat
was anything but pleasant to hear.

But Bart Hodge met its onset with a stout heart, raining his blows with
such swiftness and precision that it dropped to the deck. Then he
hurried to the assistance of Merriwell. But Frank was already the
victor. Though the man had the strength of an ox, he had not Merriwell's
science and skill in fighting, and Frank had not only knocked the breath
out of him, but had hurled him to the deck.

"That rope, Bart! It is right here. I tripped over it. Tie him!"

A cry followed this--a cry from Inza. She rushed out of the cuddy door,
and after her sprang a man with a lighted lantern.

Hodge faced toward this man, intending to fell him with the club.

"Frank! Frank!" Inza cried. "I knew you would come, Frank!"

Then she noticed the uplifted club.

"Don't strike him, Bart!"

She threw herself between Hodge and the man with the lantern. Merriwell
was still holding down the man he had conquered.

"What is it?" he questioned, looking up and trying to read Inza's
meaning by the light of the lantern.

"The men are deaf!" said Inza. "They rescued me from a piece of boat, to
which I clung after the collision!"

The man with the lantern seemed about to spring upon Frank in spite of
Hodge's threatening club. Inza touched him on the arm.

"Friends!" she screamed, in an endeavor to make him hear.

CHAPTER XXIV.

INZA'S STORY.

The man did not hear Inza, but he felt the touch, and, turning quickly
about, caught something of her meaning in her manner. The deaf are
wonderfully quick in such things. He made a horrible grimace and pointed
at Merriwell. Again she laid a hand restrainingly on his shoulder.

"Let the man up, Frank," she urged. "The fellows are harmless enough,
but they are as deaf as adders!"

"Look out for the dog!" Frank warned.

The dog, which had crawled away in a seemingly dying condition, had
struggled again to its feet and appeared to be meditating another attack
on Hodge.

"I've got an eye on him," Hodge called back. "Look out for your man!"

Merriwell released the fellow he had overthrown, and the man climbed
dazedly and sullenly to his feet. Inza hurried toward him, shrieking and
making motions with her han