Part 65 (2/2)
”There you are Take care how you go Can you keep close behind us, my lads? Better join hands Now then, are you ready?”
”Ay, ay,” ca the lers were still there, but feeling that they would keep in hiding, and try to escape when they were gone
”Say, my lad,” whispered the master, ”I pity you--I do fro shut up all alone in a place like this! Hah! Look out!”
The order was needless, for the s to do that
One h the darkness, the next, without a sound to warn theel striking head, cutlass, shoulder, anything that opposed the advance; and in less time than it takes to describe the encounter, the sailors were beaten down or aside, and the party of four, arned of what to expect by the noise in their front, advanced to the help of their friends, but only to be beaten down or aside by the gang which rushed at them
”Stop them, dick Doith theet on his feet ”Hi, dick! Pass the word to the bo's'n to look out Here, Mr Raystoke! Hi, bo's'n, doith that trap and make it fast Mr Raystoke, I say, where are you? Which way is it? Who's this?”
”No, no, sir,” cried one of them; ”it's on'y me”
”Mr Gurr! Here!” cried Archy ”Where are you?”
”At last Where were you, then?”
”On the stones, half stunned,” cried Archy ”Here, all get together and followto do?”
”Make for the trap-door--sharp! They're fighting there”
”Oh, dear, who'd have thought it was this way!” grumbled theright, lad? Shall I fire a pistol to make a flash?”
”No; I know”
”Hah!” cried Gurr, as an echoing bang ran through the great cavern
”Bravo, bo's'n!”
The bang was followed by a heavy rattling sound perfectly fa to the foot of the slope
”Are you all there?” cried Archy
”Yes,”--”No,”--”No,” came from different directions
”Then keep up this way, and be ready for another rush”
”Ay,” cried the master loudly; ”and I warn you fello, I'd have treated you easy; but if you will have it, the word's war, and a volley of bullets next time you come on”
”No, no, don't fire! You'll hit our own men,” whispered Archy, as he reached the top of the slope ”Ah! Who's this?” he cried, as he nearly fell over a prostrate figure
”Steady, my lad, steady!”
”Steady it is,” said another voice