"Look out! He's strong's a bear! He's got a gun! Kick his head,
somebody! Kick his head!"
In their little coop forward, from which they saw it all, Payne looked
at Higgins. Higgins returned the look.
"He's a white man against four."
"Come on, Hig!"
With a kick Payne sent the door flying and crawled out on deck.
The captain saw him and sprang for an ax. Roger caught him in a leap,
flung him aside and threw the ax overboard.
Higgins kicked, struck and pulled at the pile on Davis and saved him
from being kicked unconscious or killed, and suddenly found himself on
the deck with the pile on top of him. Payne came to his rescue. A few
seconds of rough work and they were up on their feet, fighting
furiously.
"Look! He's getting away!" The captain pointed at Davis who, in the
melee, had leaped overboard and was in the canoe pushing his way into
the jungle.
"Quitting?" demanded Payne.
"Got to. Explain later."
The mangrove branches closed behind him and he was gone. Roger turned
to face the captain, who was furious.
"How'd you get on this boat?"
"Crawled on."
"Who be ye?"
"Land buyers."
"Get off this boat."
"Go to hell."
A long curved knife appeared in the captain's hand; and the crew behind
him smiled in horrible anticipation.
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