He dashed off down the deck, past the assailants and assailed still struggling there, and, followed by Ada and his men, sprung into the cabin to confront Afton and his men in their fiendish scheme. Afton, having penetrated to the state-rooms, had seized Miss Durocher, and was trying to drag her forth, preparatory to removing her to the brig. "Unhand that lady, villain!" shouted Coe. "Villain yourself?" roared Afton. "Who made you my master, I should like to know?" Afton was a strong man, but young Coe was both stronger and more active, and when he was aroused and inflamed by a righteous anger the pirate was but a child in his hands. He said not another word, but releasing the lady from the grasp of the ruffian by a sudden and dexterous exertion, he seized the pirate with both hands and swung him with tremendous force through the state-room doorway into the saloon. So violently did the latter strike the floor, that he lay at once without sense or motion. One of Afton's men, drawing a pistol, had pointed it at the head of the infuriated rescuer; but ere he could pull the trigger, Ada, who already had a pistol in her hand, fired, and broke his right arm, which fell powerless to his side. He stooped to pick up the weapon which he had dropped with the hand of his uninjured arm, but Ada drew another pistol from her belt and presented it at his head. "If you attempt to take up that weapon again, Joe," she said, with firmness of purpose expressed in her tones, "you are a dead man." The man yielded at once, and stood motionless and silent before the pistol which she continued to hold with the muzzle towards him. At the same time when these scenes were occurring in the state-room, others were taking place in the saloon. "Unhand that gentleman," said Bowsprit, to two men who held the sick Mr Durocher prisoner. "We are acting under the orders of the second-lieutenant," replied one of the men. "Point your pistols at those men," said Bowsprit, addressing those under his command, himself presenting at them a weapon in each hand. His orders were at once obeyed. "We have pistols, too," gruffly said one of the men who held Mr Durocher. "Now," said Billy, "release your prisoner at once, or I'll warrant you'll never disobey orders again." At this moment the body of Afton came rushing head-foremost out of the state-room. Seeing the condition of their officer, the two men unhanded Mr Durocher, and sullenly threw their weapons upon the floor. The fourth of the men who had accompanied Afton, and who had stood at the state-room door through all these scenes, apparently stupefied by surprise, quietly handed his pistols and cutlass to Bowsprit. STORY TWO, CHAPTER TWELVE. THE FATE OF THE FALCON. Sir, I thank you-- My heart is full of thanks to you. _The Dream_. *John*. Surrender, sirs. *Isaac*. Never; we die first. _Old Play_. Full many a fathom deep they rushed Down--down the dark abyss. _Ballad_.