and took a flying plunge, hands
first, into the shallow water, sending it up in splashes which sparkled
in the sunshine.

By this time Lynton was up with the rest, hitting right and left, before
facing round with Brace to defend the boats, while Briscoe and Dellow
came to their help, and, thus cut off; the six sailors turned off along
the river bank and made for the nearest clump of trees, among which they
disappeared, leaving their wounded upon the field.

"Hah!" cried the captain breathlessly, "I've 'most lost my wind. Now,
gentlemen, I call that a neat job. Will you do the crowing, Mr Brace?"

"I don't think there's any need, captain," said Brace, who was examining
one hand.

"Not a bit, my lad. Hullo ... hurt?"

"Only knocked the skin off my knuckles. Your men have such hard heads."

"Yes, but we've softened some of 'em," said Lynton.

"Given 'em a thoroughly good licking," cried the captain; "eh, Sir
Humphrey? Better than shooting the idiots ever so much. Be a lesson to
'em," he continued, raising his voice. "You, Lynton, collect those
pieces that the thieving dogs took. They dropped 'em all, didn't they?"

"Yes, sir; they've left every one of 'em," said the second mate.

"That's right. Mr Brace, just you take one of the shot guns and keep
guard over these six chaps littering the deck--ground, I mean. They're
prisoners, and I'm going to make slaves of them to row us up the river.
I'll give 'em gold. If one of 'em tries to run after those other
cowardly swabs you fire at him, sir. Pepper him well in the legs, and
if that doesn't stop him, give him the other barrel upwards."

"All right," said Brace, laughing.

"I'll be ready too," said Briscoe, "in case you miss. But wouldn't it
be better to put 'em in the small boat for the present, and take out the
oars and sail?"

"Good idea, Mr Briscoe," said the captain. "See to it, Dellow, and
make her fast to the stern of the other boat with the grapnel-line."

The first mate nodded, strode to the man who was looking at his tooth,
ordered him into the lesser boat, and the man rose and went like a lamb,
the rest following slowly and in a more sheepish way, as the big mate
walked to them in turn and pointed meaningly ahead.

"What about the others, captain?" said Sir Humphrey.

"T'other six, sir?" replied the gentleman addressed. "Oh! they've cut
and run. Let 'em go gold-washing and making their fortunes. They're
off on a holiday, and as they'