Gary, accompanied by Bludson and others, now appeared, armed with
pistols and cutlasses; but the door leading into the hold was already
broken down. Scores of half crazy negroes swarmed into the gangway,
bearing back the whites by sheer weight of numbers, notwithstanding the
weapons of the crew. Revolver and cutlass played an active part, but
the slaves seemed absolutely indifferent to life.
When one was shot down, half a dozen took his place. Even the few
women fought like tigresses. The truth was they were crazed for want
of water.
In the cabin, Rucker and one seaman had been literally torn limb from
limb. The remaining man escaped into the captain's room.
Duff, who was without weapons, clambered through the stern window of
his room, and gained the deck by way of the vessel's stern post and a
rope thrown him by Ralph, who had been summoned to the wheel when the
alarm was given. The lad was chafing at his inactivity.
"There's hardly any breeze," said Duff. "Lash the wheel, my lad, and
bear a hand. If those niggers gain the deck we're gone up sure."
It was but the task of a moment to obey, seize a cutlass from the rack
and follow the mate to the companion-way, where Gary and what was left
of the men with him were being forced up the steps.
The captain was covered with blood from a scalp wound, but he was equal
to several ordinary men. Skillfully parrying the blows directed at his
life, he had laid more than one burly savage low.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159