The attacking party advanced.

The narrow beach of sand and mud was covered with a struggling mass of fighting men, of which neither party knew the nature of the other, and where the combatants could scarce tell friend from foe.
"Get in, men!" cried Dunwody.

"Go on! Take the boat!" He pressed on slowly, Judge Clayton at his side, and they two passed on up the gang-plank and into the boat itself.

The leader of the boat forces, who had retired again to the steamer deck, faced them here.
It was Dunwody himself who reached out, caught him in a fell grip and took away from him his rifle.
"Call your men off!" he cried.

"Do you all want to get killed ?" "You pirates!" exclaimed the boat leader as soon as he could get his breath.