Against wind and current they
could not possibly reach the ship under half an hour, and the smallness
of the fleet surprised him.
He stooped and patted Joey, who was at peace with the world after a
good dinner.
"We are in luck's way, pup," he said. "These rascals might get the
better of us by sheer force of numbers, but there are not fifty of
them, all told. Poor devils! They are coming to the slaughter!"
The news that the Indians were advancing ran through the ship like
wildfire. Including Mr. Boyle, Frascuelo, and those among the Chileans
whose wounds were not serious, there were fourteen men available for
the defense. Unfortunately, the supply of firearms was inadequate. A
shot-gun and five revolvers constituted the armory, and one of the
pistols was in Christobal's pocket. The supply of ammunition was so
small that the revolvers could not be reloaded more than three times;
but Courtenay had two hundred shot cartridges, and, against naked men,
an ounce of shot is far more effective than a bullet.
The captain hoped to terrify the Indians before they attempted to scale
the ship's sides.
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