H'ist out that ladder!"
"Death and no quarter!" shouted back Archie,
opening the big blade of Captain Holt's pocket knife
and grasping it firmly in his wee hand. "We'll
defend this ship with the last drop of our blood!"
"Ye will, will ye!" retorted Scootsy. "Come on,
fellers--go for 'em! I'll show 'em," and he dodged
under the sloop's bow and sprang for the overhanging
chains.
Tod had now clambered up from the hold. Under
his arm were two stout hickory saplings. One he gave
to Archie, the other he kept himself.
"Give them the shells first," commanded Archie,
dodging a beach pebble; "and when their hands come
up over the rail let them have this," and he waved
the sapling over his head. "Run, Tod,--they're
trying to climb up behind. I'll take the bow. Avast
there, ye lubbers!"
With this Archie dropped to his knees and
crouched close to the heel of the rotting bowsprit,
out of the way of the flying missiles--each boy's
pockets were loaded--and looking cautiously over
the side of the hulk, waited until Scootsy's dirty
fingers--he was climbing the chain hand over hand,
his feet resting on a boy below him--came into
view.
"Off there, or I'll crack your fingers!"
"Crack and be--"
Bang! went Archie's hickory and down dropped
the braggart, his oath lost in his cries.
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