"At least," he added, "I'm going to ask them. Come with
me, Alice. We must not let them think we expect any but
courteous treatment."

The men had by this time surrounded the dead and wounded
officers, and without either partiality or compassion
proceeded to throw both living and dead over the sides of
the vessel. With equal heartlessness they disposed of their
own dead and dying.

Presently one of the crew spied the approaching Claytons,
and with a cry of: "Here's two more for the fishes," rushed
toward them with uplifted ax.

But Black Michael was even quicker, so that the fellow
went down with a bullet in his back before he had taken a
half dozen steps.

With a loud roar, Black Michael attracted the attention of
the others, and, pointing to Lord and Lady Greystoke, cried:

"These here are my friends, and they are to be left alone.
D'ye understand?

"I'm captain of this ship now, an' what I says goes," he
added, turning to Clayton. "Just keep to yourselves, and
nobody'll harm ye," and he looked threateningly on his fellows.

The Claytons heeded Black Michael's instructions so well