"Give me room then," and this was followed by a crashing sound, and a
jar against my hand as I held on to the side of the hatchway.
"They've got a chopper, and are going to cut their way out!" I said
excitedly. And almost as I spoke there was another dull blow, and this
was followed by a cheer.
"What are you going to do?" I cried, as Mr Preddle held on with one
hand, and presented his revolver at the door of the hatchway.
A flash and a dull report served for my answer then; and as the bullet
crashed through the woodwork, there was a yell, a dull sound as of a
fall, and then in the momentary silence Mr Preddle said--
"Those were my orders; I was obliged."
A ragged volley was fired then from below, and we heard the bullets
striking the wood, and saw two or three splitting the thick wood at the
top of the hatchway. But we stood back too much for either of them to
touch us, as we listened, trying to distinguish the words said, as we
pictured, no doubt pretty accurately, what was going on in the
forecastle; for a dull groaning told only too plainly that Mr Preddle's
shot had taken effect.
What I pictured was the men lifting their bleeding companion forward to
one of the bunks, while others were talking and raging furiously about
the shot.
I shuddered, and yet I felt excited, and that it was a necessity. And
just then I made out Jarette's voice shouting at the men, and giving
some order which only evoked a deep growl.
"I don't like having to fire like that," said Mr Preddle just then;
"and I feel now as if I ought to fetch the doctor.--Ah, Frewen," he
cried, "I've just shot one of the men."
For there were Mr Frewen, the mate, and Barney Blane, all panting and
eager to help us.