a boss, sir,--that's what they need. And they
need him damned quick, so if you don't mind saying the word,--they're
ready to make a rush, and if--"

"Go ahead, Percival,--if you can hold them--"

"Say no more!" shouted Percival, and stepped resolutely forward. His
hands were bare,--swollen, red and ugly; his eyes were as cold as steel,
his voice as sharp as a keen-edged sword. He spoke in Spanish to the
wavering, threatening horde.

"You damned, sneaking, low-lived cowards! What sort of swine are you?
Have you no thought for the women you've trampled upon and beaten out of
your path,--your own women, as well as the others,--think of them and
ask yourselves if you are men. I'm in command of this ship now, and,
by God, I'm going to let you get into those boats and start for shore.
Don't cheer! You don't know what's coming to you. I'm going to turn that
cannon on you up there and blow every one of you to hell and gone before
you get fifty feet from the side of this ship. You don't believe that,
eh? Well, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Lieutenant Platt!" He
called over his shoulder in English to the young commander of the gun's
crew. "Get some of your men up there and train that gun so as to blow
these boats to smithereens. Quick!" In a half-whisper to the Captain:
"It's all right. I know what I'm talking about." Then to the crowd:
"We don't want you on board this ship a minute longer than we can help.
We've got no room for dogs here among decent white men and women. Do
you understand that? We don't want to have anything more to do with you,
either here or on shore. I'm going to wipe you out, every damned one of
you,--men women and children. You're not fit to live. You're going to
climb into those boats now and get off this ship. You'll never realize
how safe you are here till you get down there in the water and hear that
gun go off. Come on! Get a move! We're through with you, now and for
ever. Nobody's going to stop you. I'm even going to have the boats
lowered for you, so as not to delay matters." He shouted after
Lieutenant Platt: "Be lively, please. You've got your orders. We'll make
short work of this pack of wolves." To Captain Trigger, authoritatively:
"Withdraw your men, sir. I am going to let them leave the ship. At once,
sir! Do you mean to disobey me, sir?" He gave the captain a sly wink.

Then as the bewildered master withdrew with his armed men, he turned
once more to the mob. "Come on! Step lively,