Page 61 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

A FIGHT TO A FINISH 61

necessary to put any restraint upon their movements
either by way of disarmament or by keeping them “ before
the mast.” It seemed to him absurd to place under sus­
picion these eager visitors who, with childlike curiosity,
roamed about the ship inspecting its equipment and
examining with especial interest the arrangements for the
accommodation of the officers and crew. So the day wore
on with men coming and going between the two vessels
without restraint as the work of unloading the cargo of
the captured junk proceeded. There was even a certain
amount of friendly intercourse between the two crews,
and on the part of the Tiger’s officers a display of hospi­
tality. Glasses were lifted and eyes spoke apparently
cordial sentiments which could not be expressed by the
ordinary medium. The prevailing note of the gathering
was one of almost idyllic peacefulness.
In a twinkling the scene was changed. How it came
about no one knew, but before the Englishmen realized
it they were fighting for dear life a body of desperadoes
of the fiercest type. Those on board the Japanese boat
were soon overwhelmed. Taken unawares they had no
time to use their arms and were either cut down at once
or driven overboard.
On the Tiger, owing to the unfamiliarity of the Japanese
with the ship, the surprise was less decisive, but the posi­
tion was, nevertheless, critical in the extreme. One of
the first victims was poor Davis, who was attacked by the
ruffians as he was emerging from the gun room. He was
slashed and hacked at with knives and swords and was
then thrust out on to the waist of the ship, where in a short
time he bled to death. Meanwhile, the Tiger’s crew,
brought to a vivid realization of their peril, had rallied