"We are in luck's way, pup," he said. "These rascals might get the

better of us by sheer force of numbers, but there are not fifty of

them, all told. Poor devils! They are coming to the slaughter!"

The news that the Indians were advancing ran through the ship like

wildfire. Including Mr. Boyle, Frascuelo, and those among the Chileans

whose wounds were not serious, there were fourteen men available for

the defense. Unfortunately, the supply of firearms was inadequate. A

shot-gun and five revolvers constituted the armory, and one of the

pistols was in Christobal's pocket. The supply of ammunition was so

small that the revolvers could not be reloaded more than three times;

but Courtenay had two hundred shot cartridges, and, against naked men,

an ounce of shot is far more effective than a bullet.

The captain hoped to terrify the Indians before they attempted to scale

the ship's sides. If various ruses failed, and the attack was pressed,

he had decided not to split up his small force in the effort to repel

boarders. A scattered resistance would surely break down at one point

or another: there would be a rush of savages along the decks, a panic

among the Chileans, and all would be ended. On the other hand, when

fighting collectively under European leadership, and well aware that

the Indians would kill and spare not, the half-breeds might be trusted

to acquit themselves like men.

The canvas awning constituted a flimsy citadel in the center of the

vessel. Six men were stationed on the starboard side of the promenade

deck, and six on the port side. Tollemache and a Chilean, who said he

could shoot well, were told to frustrate any attempt to climb the after

part of the ship, while Courtenay, with his fowling-piece, would have

the lion's share of this work from the spar deck, as he undertook to

keep the rails clear forward and help the revolver practise if

necessary. With him was Suarez, who knew what was expected of him, so

the language difficulty offered no apparent hindrance once the fight

began. Finally, if the Indians made good their footing, the defenders

were to rally towards the saloon companion where steam jets were ready

to spurt withering blasts along the corridors.

It was a good plan, and might have kept at bay an enemy of higher valor

than the Alaculofs, provided they were not armed with rifles. Against

modern weapons of long range nothing could be done. If Suarez did not

exaggerate, therein lay the real danger. Courtenay wished to make sure

at the outset of the number of guns carried by the savages; it was also

important to know whether their marksmen were distributed, or crowded

together in one or two canoes. If the latter, he would give those

warriors his special attention.




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