"I gave you a chance to be decent and earn some money," said he angrily. "You would not listen to me, and now you have lost your chance to make three or four pounds, and I have taken possession of the steamer, and I intend to keep her as long as I please." "This is piracy!" exclaimed Louis. "You may call it what you like," replied Gray savagely. "You have had your chance, and now you have lost it. Go forward, every mother's son of you!" And he rushed at them in a body as they stood, with his two fists doubled up as though he intended to annihilate them, and so furiously that those who had revolvers had no chance to use them. He absolutely fell upon Louis and Felix who were ahead of Morris and Scott, and except the last they all fell back involuntarily, and in a moment more the revolvers were drawn and in readiness for use; but Scott did not budge a foot. He had restored the hatchet to the belt behind him, and had transferred the hand-saw to his right hand. He stood his ground like a brave fellow, for he had a plan in his head upon which he meant to act. The Scotchman struck at him with his fist, directing the blow at his head; but Scott had raised the saw in readiness for action, and he brought it down upon his assailant's hand with a force which made him howl with pain, and caused him to retreat a pace, while he poured forth a volley of oaths which must have well-nigh exhausted his piratical vocabulary. [Illustration: "SCOTT RAISED THE SAW IN READINESS FOR ACTION."] "Don't fire, fellows, if you can help it," said Louis to his followers, for the worst the smugglers were likely to do was to use the Salihé to tow their schooner down to Carnero Point, a distance of about five miles, and he could not feel that his party would be justified in killing the assailants. He spoke in a low tone so that Gray could not hear him, for he was still disposed to use the revolvers for their moral effect, and he did not believe that even the Scotchman would be willing to stand up in the face of a dozen and a half of bullets that might be shot into his head. Louis was filled with admiration at the pluck which Scott exhibited, for he had not expected it of him. Still levelling blows at the Scotchman with the saw, the pilot drove him aft, hitting him once in the face, for he was not as tender of the enemy as his leader was. Gray defended himself as well as he could, avoiding most of the blows by dodging them, or warding them off with his arm. Near the standing-room he found a spare tiller, kept for use in case the wheel should be disabled in the pilot-house. As he stooped to take it from the brackets, he received the cut in his face, which maddened him more than any other he had received. With this weapon he rushed upon the pilot, and the efficiency of the saw was somewhat neutralized, though Scott continued to wield it vigorously as he retreated upon his companions.