Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/198

 "they 'd never have had the pluck to do it of themselves."

"We 'd better go an' help 'em," said Stumps, whose usually stupid face was lighted up with excitement.

"Right, lad " exclaimed Slagg, starting up; but Sam laid his hand firmly on his arm.

"Too late," he said; "don't you see that the guard have prevailed. Besides, the pirate crew are in their boats—almost at the vessel. See, they swarm up the side."

"Poor, poor sailor!" said Robin Wright, in a voice of the deepest pity.

"You may well say that; no doubt he is killed by this time," said Slagg; "but no—he is fightin' still!"

This was indeed true. Some of the slaves, rendered desperate no doubt, were still maintaining a hopeless fight with handspikes and such arms as they had succeeded in wresting from the guard at the first onset, and the stalwart figure of the European sailor was seen swaying aloft a clubbed musket and felling a pirate at every blow. Animated by his example, the other slaves fought with resolute bravery, but when the rest of the pirate crew joined the guard and surrounded them, they were instantly overpowered. Then those who had not been already slain were led hastily to the side, a sword