Now, however, these bronzed men of the deep beheld Benson and Somers at work in a manner worthy of any product of Annapolis.
The second revolver was handed to Jack.
"I want to be in this, too," muttered Ensign Eph, and held back his hand for weapons.
"Are you going to surrender, Gray, and open that door?" demanded Lieutenant Jack.
"Never--to you," came the ugly defiance.
Bang! Again Gray fired, straight in the direction of the voice the bullet, crashing through a panel of the door, fanned Jack"s left ear so that he felt the breeze.
"Open up on him, Mr. Somers," directed Benson. "Slowly. Fire high, and fire low. Try to get him somehow."
Two more shots came from the other side of the locked door.
Then pop-pop-pop! began the fusilade from outside, Jack and Eph firing with either hand as they sighted their weapons for new spots.
R-r-rip! crash! A long enough bombardment of this sort was certain to reduce the panels to splinters and leave the way clear--if they didn"t riddle Gray with bullets in the meantime.
Pop-pop-pop! The air was becoming heavy with the white fog of smoke.
Breathing was somewhat difficult, with so many shots being fired in the confined s.p.a.ce.
Then both young officers stopped, pa.s.sing back one revolver apiece to be reloaded.
Bang! came a defiant shot from inside the stateroom. The bullet struck the cabin floor just behind Jack, having pa.s.sed between his feet.
The sailors, back where they were comparatively safe from harm, looked on in admiration at these two grit-full young American officers.
Pop-pop-pop! began the fusilade by Jack and Eph again.
"Ouch!" came a sudden yell from the stateroom.
"Hit you, did we?" called Jack, calmly. "Well, we"re going to riddle you unless you stop that nonsense."
The answer was another shot from inside the stateroom. The bullet clipped off a stray lock of hair at the left side of Eph Somers"s head.
Both young officers fired slowly, searchingly, until their weapons were emptied. Then they pa.s.sed the hot smoking revolvers back for new loads.
From the other side of the stateroom door came no sound.
As soon as he and Eph had received the reloaded weapons, Jack motioned Eph Somers not to fire.
For a few moments they listened. Then Jack turned, selecting the two most stalwart-looking of the husky sailors back by the companionway. A nod of Jack"s head brought them stealthily to his side.
"Put your shoulders to the stateroom door, and force it," commanded Lieutenant Benson.
At the same time Jack and Eph moved up with the sailors, holding their revolvers ready to fire at the first sign of renewed hostilities from within.
b.u.mp! Two pairs of st.u.r.dy shoulders went up against the door. From within there came no sign of defiance. b.u.mp! At the second determined a.s.sault the door flew open.
"Step back, men! We"ll go in first," commanded Lieutenant Benson.
Revolvers in hand, and ready, the two young officers of the "Sudbury"
pressed forward into the battered-looking room.
"Where is the rascal?" growled Eph Somers.
"Here, hiding like a cornered rat," replied Jack, aiming both revolvers at a huddled figure well in under the lower berth. "Come out, Gray!
You won"t be hurt unless you try tricks on us."
The answer was a groan.
"Are your hurt?" inquired Lieutenant Benson.
"Yes."
"How badly?"
"You hit me twice."
"Where?"
"Once in the left arm; once in the right thigh. O-o-o-h!"
Jack Benson felt a swift twinge--almost a guilty jerk of his conscience.
To be sure, Gray had been defying properly appointed officers of the government engaged in performing their sworn task. Gray had attempted to kill or injure the young officers.
Still, Gray was a human being. Benson, despite his fighting spirit, at need, was not fond of gazing upon misery.
"I guess you can get out, with a little aid," coaxed Lieutenant Jack.
Gray"s answer was another groan.
"We"ll help you out, then," Jack continued. "But don"t you dare to open fire upon any of our party!"
"I would, if I could," snarled the wounded man.
"Why can"t you?"
"Fired my last cartridge!" snapped the wretch, defiantly. "Else you wouldn"t have got in here without losing a few men!"
Jack signed to the two men who had forced the door to lend a hand in moving Gray out from under the berth. As they got the wounded man out on the carpet he presented a sad picture in his bloodstained clothing.
"Will the Lieutenant pardon a suggestion?" spoke up one of the sailors, saluting.
"Yes."