CHAPTER XVII

Action.

I had seen, close in shore, a two-masted schooner under full sail sweeping by, as if pursued, and three negroes kneeling on deck, with levelled rifles.  As I looked, a shot rang out, from my right, where I could not see, and one of the negroes rolled over.  Another shot, and the negro next him fell sprawling with his arms over the bulwark.

At that moment, two other negroes emerged from the cabin hatchway, half dragging and half carrying a woman.  She was struggling bravely, but in vain.  The negroes—­evidently acting under orders of a white man, who stood over them with a revolver—­were dragging her toward the mainmast.  Her head was bare, her hair in disorder, and one shoulder from which her dress had been torn in the struggle, gleamed white in the sunlight.  Yet her eyes were flashing splendid scornful fires at her captors; and her laughter of defiance came ringing to me over the sea.  It was then that I had cried “Calypso!” and wrenched myself free.

The next moment there came dashing in sight a sloop also under full canvas, and at its bow, a huge white man, with a levelled rifle that still smoked.  At a glance, I knew him for Charlie Webster.  He had been about to fire again, but, as the man dragged Calypso for’ard, he paused, calm as a rock, waiting, with his keen sportsman’s eyes on Tobias—­for, of course, it was he.

“You—­coward!” I heard his voice roar across the rapidly diminishing distance between the two boats, for the sloop was running with power as well as sails.

Meanwhile, the men had lashed Calypso to the mast, and even in my agony my eyes recorded the glory of her beauty as she stood proudly there—­the great sails spread above her, and the sea for her background.

“Now, do your worst,” cried Tobias, his evil face white as wax in the sunlight.

“Fire, fire—­don’t be afraid,” rang out Calypso’s voice, like singing gold.  At the same instant, as she called, Tobias sprang toward her with raised revolver.

“Another word, and I fire,” shouted the voice of the brute.

But the rifle that never missed its mark spoke again.  Tobias’s arm fell shattered, and he staggered away screaming.  Still once more, Charlie Webster’s gun spoke, and the staggering figure fell with a crash on the deck.

“Now, boys, ready,” I heard Charlie’s voice roar out again, as the sloop tore alongside the schooner—­where the rest of the negro crew with raised arms had fallen on their knees, crying for mercy.

All this I saw from the water, as I swam wildly toward the two boats, which now had closed on each other, a mass of thundering canvas, and screaming and cursing men—­and Calypso there, like a beautiful statue, still lashed to the mast, a proud smile on her lovely lips.

Another moment, and Charlie had sprung aboard, and, seizing a knife from one of the screaming negroes, he cut her free.