But though they could not see, they could hear, and they all sat listening with intense excitement as shot followed shot, and the schooner lay so much over to one side that it was evident that she was carrying a very heavy press of sail, and that the slaver captain was straining every nerve to escape. "Now, then," cried Mark, "be ready for a rush either at the door or up through the skylight, in case the boats board. We can then take the Yankee between two fires." "Ay, ay, sir," cried Tom; "strikes me, begging your pardon, sir, as some of us aboard the _Naughtylass_ is terrible bad shots. I want 'em to hit us--forrard, o' course; not here." "They could hit fast enough," said Mark, petulantly, for he was in great pain, "only they are firing at the rigging, so as not to injure the slaves." "Course. I forget that, sir; only if they don't bring down a spar, and the beggars escape again, where are we?" Just at that moment there was a rattling and thumping at the cabin door, as if something was being removed; and as the prisoners listened, the skipper's voice was heard at the skylight. "Below there!" he cried. "Ah, it's of no use. I'm covering yew with this pistol. Look here, I've got a boat alongside ready; that door's a-going to be opened, and one of yew will come out a time, and tumble into the boat. One at a time, mind; and if there's any show o' fighting, we'll shoot you down without mercy. Do yew hear?" "Yes, I hear," said Mark bitterly. "Soon as yew're all over the side, we'll cut yew adrift; and when yew're skipper picks yew up, yew may tell him that I'll throw every nigger overboard before he shall take us, and run the schooner aground and blow her up this time." "You can give your message when Captain Maitland has you safely in irons, sir," said Mark, stoutly. "Thankye," said the skipper; and at that moment, in obedience to an order previously given, the cabin door was dragged open. "What d'yer say to a rush, sir?" whispered Tom Fillot. He had hardly uttered the words, when there was a fresh crashing noise, a heavy report, and a splintering of wood, accompanied by a strange rustling sound. The door was clapped to again and fastened, and as there was a rush of feet, a shouting of orders, and the sound of axes being used, the schooner swung round, stopped, and the prisoners set up a cheer. "Mainmast down by the board," cried Tom Fillot, slapping his leg. "We can aim straight, sir, arter all." Mark forgot the smarting and throbbing from his burns on the instant, as he snatched out his dirk, for knowing as well as if he could see everything that the whole of the after-rigging was lying across the deck and dragging at the side, so that the schooner lay on the water like a gull with a broken wing, he felt that in a few minutes a couple of boats' crews from the _Nautilus_ would be aboard; and if there was to be any resistance, now was the time to make a diversion.