“I am the king of Portugal, of course--Dom Carlos,” I replied, trying to keep my face straight. “Where is Captain Gompez?” “I am Captain Gompez.” “I’m afraid you’ve had rather a rough night of it, captain. Stokehole work is trying for an amateur.” “Who are you, sir? I’m in no mood for fooling.” “I should think not after such an experience. But as you are the owner of this boat, tell me why you brought me here?” As I said this I saw one of the younger men--a red-headed, fiery-looking fellow--pull off his gloves furtively and begin to reach for his hip pocket. “If either of you attempts to draw on me I shall fire at whoever’s nearest to me,” I sang out in a very different tone. Captain Gompez was the nearest and he promptly turned and stopped the fellow who then tried to sneak away. But I wouldn’t have that either. “You stop just where you are,” I said. “I’m like your leader here--in no mood for fooling.” At this moment Burroughs fired the blank cartridge from the _Stella_, and some one called excitedly for Captain Gompez. Taken aback by the unexpected development, all four started and I took advantage of the moment when their eyes were off me to grab hold of the captain and drag him into the cabin and then slammed the door to and shot home one of the bolts. “Now we can talk this----” Before I could finish the sentence he flung himself upon me with an oath in a desperate effort to grab my weapon, while he shouted to the others to break in the door. Like a fool I had allowed myself to be taken by surprise, and in a second he had me pinned against the wall and at a terrible disadvantage. I could not use my weapon, and my life depended on my preventing him from getting it. CHAPTER XXIV A TIGHT CORNER Captain Gompez was about my own height but very strong, as agile as a cat, and mad with rage. Under equal conditions I should have had no chance in such a struggle with him. Fortunately for me, however, the conditions were not equal. He had been up all night, hard at work in laborious and unusual toil. He was responsible for the management of the _Rampallo_ and had had to teach his crew of amateurs their work, and he was also the leader in this critical part of the abduction plot. The combined strain of all this had told on him and made tremendous demands upon his strength and endurance. At the same time, he had the two most powerful motives which can drive a man to set his life on an issue such as that involved in this attack on me. He knew that in some way I had thwarted the plot, and the knowledge filled him with a frenzy of rage, while he believed that, on his success in overpowering me, depended not only his own safety but that of all who were relying upon his leadership. This rendered him desperate.