Solomon sensed the danger in the situation.

He and Jack moved out of the jeering mob.

Then suddenly a thing happened which may have saved one or both of their lives.

The Captain drew his sword and flashed a dark light upon Solomon and called, out: "Hello, Binkus! What the hell do you want ?" "Who be ye ?" Solomon asked.
"Preston." "Preston! Cat's blood an' gunpowder! What's the matter ?" Preston, an old comrade of Solomon, said to him: "Go around to headquarters and tell them we are cut off by a mob and in a bad mess.

I'm a little scared.