And almost in the twinkling of an eye-lid, Clif Faraday was saved. He could hardly realize what had happened, and he staggered back against the railing of the vessel and gasped for breath. But that was only for a moment, too; and then the blood surged back to his cheeks and the cadet was himself once more. He stepped forward, a calm smile playing about his mouth. "Bind that man," he said to the sailors. The two men were grasping the sinewy Cuban and holding him so tight that he could not move. They almost crushed his wrists, and he dropped the knife with a hoarse cry of pain. And Clif picked it up and glanced at it for a moment, then flung it far out into the sea. After that he turned to Ignacio. "You have met me once more, my friend," he said, "and this time you will not get away." And that was all the conversation he had with him. Glancing about the deck he picked up a piece of rope and stepped toward the prisoner. He did not strike the fellow, as the Spaniards seemed to think he would. But the sailors flung him to the deck and Clif carefully bound his feet together. Then, while he fairly fumed with rage and hatred, his hands were made fast and he was left lying there, shrieking curses in his native Spanish. Clif turned to the captain of the vessel; the man was frightened nearly to death, and began protesting volubly. "I did not know it, senor!" he cried. "Indeed, I did not know it! Santa Maria! I----" "I don't suppose you did," said Clif, calmly. "You did not act like it. But you will have to suffer for it." "Suffer for it! Madre di dios, no, senor! What does the senor mean? Surely he will not hang me for----" "The senor will not hang you," said Clif, unable to help smiling at the blustering fellow's terror. "Then what will the senor do?" "He will tie you like Ignacio." The man was evidently relieved, but he protested volubly. He did not want to be tied. "Is it customary?" he cried. "No," said Clif; "neither is it customary to try to assassinate an officer. After that I think common prudence requires it." "But," cried the man, angrily. "I will not submit! Por dios, I will not----" "You will either submit or be made to," said Clif, "or else sink to the bottom." And so the man had to give up. Those two delighted tars went the rounds and tied every single man on that vessel hand and foot. And they tied them tight, too, occasionally giving them a dig in the ribs for good measure. And when they came to search them Clif was glad he had done as he did, for quite a respectable heap of knives and revolvers were removed from the clothes of those angry Spaniards. But it did not take long to tie them up, and then Clif felt safe. He took a few extra hitches in the treacherous Ignacio, who was by far the most valuable prize of them all. "Admiral Sampson will be glad to get you," the cadet thought to himself. And then he turned to examine the captured vessel.