"He called to one of the Tafito men to bring water, but none came; for
they, too, were drunken with liquor they had stolen from the hold,
where there was plenty in red cases and white cases--gin and brandy.
"But my two countrymen were sober; one of them steered the ship, and
the other stood beside him with an axe in his hand, for they feared the
Tafito men, who are devils when they drink grog.

"'Get some water,' said Motley, to Juan--he who held the axe; and as he
brought it, he said, 'How is it, tattooed dog, that thou art so slow to
move?' and he struck him in the teeth, and as he struck he fell.

"Ah! that was my time! Ere he could rise I sprang at him, and Juan
raised the axe and struck off his right foot; and then Liro, the man
who steered, handed me his knife. It was a sharp knife, and I stabbed
him, even as he had stabbed my husband, till my arm was tired, and all
my hate of him had died away in my heart.


* * * * *


"There was quick work then. My two countrymen went below into the cabin
and took Motley's pistol from the table; . . . then I heard two shots.

"GUK! He was a fat, heavy man, that Riedermann, the captain; the three
of us could scarce drag him up on deck and cast him over the side, with
the other two.

"Then Juan and Liro talked, and said: 'Now for these Tafito men; they,