FACING THE CRISIS
Consternation reigned in the cabin when the principals assembled there
with white and startled faces. On deck Captain Krell was instructing
his men how to act in the threatened emergency. Pietro was among them,
accepting his rifle and his instructions willingly, but shaking his
head at what he considered a vain attempt to resist Ramon Ganza.
"Ramon great man!" he said to Captain Krell. "Ramon always win; nobody
can conquer him. I knew Ramon would win this time, an' when he does he
will capture me an' whip me hard. All right; I know I am to be whipped
at the time Chica tell me to leave Ramon. Never min'. Pietro can stand
it, for others have been whipped by Ramon an' lived--with marks like a
zebra's on their skins."
In the cabin Chesty was trying to explain the situation.
"It's this way," he said; "when the rocks are all removed the yacht
will fall over on her side, as she was at first, with the rail quite
near to the water. You remember how she lay before we propped her up.
Well, that means we have no secure footing on deck and that the pirates
can easily climb aboard and have the best of the argument. If we slip,
we fall into their arms; if we stick to the deck--like flies to a
ceiling, they'll rush and get us."
"We can't fight from the deck," declared Cumberford. "Tell Captain
Krell to come here."
The captain arrived and after a consultation it was decided to gather
all hands in the cabin and fortify it as strongly as possible. The
roof projected a few feet above the deck and there was a row of small
windows on either side, but these were supplied with heavy shutters
designed for use in case of storms, when the shutters were readily
fixed in place. The stairway might be well guarded by one man, and
above the windows were small ventilators through which several rifles
could be pointed. By standing upon the cabin table the defenders could
command the deck in this way. They were instructed not to shoot,
however, unless absolutely obliged to. All the hatches were battened
down, so that if Ganza gained the deck he could not get below and was
welcome to remain aboard until the rescuers arrived.
Orissa, who had listened silently, now approached Mr. Cumberford and
said:
"When the yacht tips, our Aircraft will be ruined, for the chances are
it will slide overboard. Even if it doesn't, those scoundrels will
wreck it completely, for it will be quite at their mercy. So I've
decided, while there is yet time, to fly it across to the bluff, where
I can remain until you are rescued."
"Can you manage to get away from the deck?"
"Easily."
"Then I think it best for you to go."
"May I take Sybil with me?"
He hesitated a moment; then replied: "Yes. It will be a good thing to
have you girls away from here when the attack is made. Here you could
be of no service whatever, and your absence will--eh--give us more room
to defend the cabin."
"You will have to act quickly, Miss Kane," suggested Chesty.
"I know. Come, Sybil."
They drew on their jackets as they went on deck, both girls realizing
that no time must be lost if they hoped to get away. Once the yacht
tipped on her side it would be impossible to fly the machine.
As they took their places Mr. Radley-Todd inquired: "Plenty of
gasoline?"
"I think so," said Orissa. "I'm not sure how much is left in the tanks,
but it ought to be enough to get us to the bluff. Whirl the propeller,
Chesty."
He did so, and the engine started with a roar. Cumberford and Chesty
steadied the Aircraft until the motor had acquired full speed and then
Orissa threw in the clutch and the big aëroplane rose as easily as a
bird takes flight and ascended into the starlit sky at a steep angle.
This feat is what is called "cloud climbing" and Orissa understood it
perfectly.
It seemed a bold thing to undertake such a flight in the nighttime,
but the Flying Girl's friends had so much confidence in her skill that
they never considered the danger of the undertaking. Across the barren
island to the bluff was so unimportant a flight to one of Orissa's
experience that when she was once away they believed her quite safe.
While the men stood watching the Aircraft mount into the dim sky the
yacht suddenly trembled and keeled over, throwing them all flat upon
the deck. With one accord they scrambled up and dashed into the cabin,
which they reached just as Ramon Ganza and his men swarmed over the
rail.