But  I  only  swung  it  the  further  until  it  covered
him  also.  The  man  stood  in  terror  of  his  ship's
owners,  he  had  a  seaman's  dread  of  international
law,  but  he  certainly  was  not  afraid  of  a  gun.  He
regarded  it  no  more  than  a  pointed  finger,  and
leaned  eagerly  toward  me.  To  my  amazement  I
saw  that  his  face  was  beaming  with  excitement
and  delight.
"  Are  you  Captain  Macklin  ?  "  he  cried.
I  was  so  amazed  that  for  a  moment  I  could
only  gape  at  him  while  I  still  covered  him  with
the  revolver.
"Yes,"  I  answered.
"  Then  why  in  hell  didn't  you  say  so  !  "  he
roared,  and  with  a  bellow  like  a  bull  he  threw
himself  upon  the  Commandante.  He  seized  him
by  his  epaulettes  and  pushed  him  backward.
With  the  strength  of  a  bull  he  butted  and  shoved
him  across  the  deck.
295


Captain  Macklin

"  Off  my  ship  you  !  "  he  roared.  "  Every  one
of  you;  you*re  a  gang  of  murdering  cutthroats."

The  deck-hands  and  the  ship-stewards,  who  had
gathered  at  the  gangway  to  assist  in  throwing  me
down  it,  sprang  to  the  Captain's  aid.
"  Over  with  him,  boys,"  he  roared.  "  Clear
the  ship  of  them.  Throw  them  overboard."
The  crew  fell  upon  the  astonished  soldiers,  and
drove  them  to  the  side.  Their  curses  and
shrieks  filled  the  air,  the  women  retreated  scream-
ing, and  I  was  left  alone,  leaning  limply  against
the  cabin  with  my  revolver  hanging  from  my
fingers.
