The skipper also kept his eyes about him, and insisted that the four men should keep together at the head of the pier.

“I daresay you’re trying to play low down on me,” he said with a scowl, after satisfying himself that the money was correct, “but I’ve got my shooter.”

“So have I,” cried Don Pedro indignantly, and slipped his hand round to his hip pocket, “and if you talk any further so insulting I shall—­”

“Oh, you bet, two can play at that game,” cried Hervey, and ripped out his own weapon before the Spaniard could produce his Derringer.  “Hands up or I shoot.”

But he had reckoned without his host.  While covering De Gayangos, he overlooked the fact that Random and Hope were close at hand.  The next moment, and while Don Pedro flung up his hands, the ruffian was covered by two revolvers in the hands of two very capable men.

“Great Scott!” cried Hervey, lowering his weapon.  “Only my fun, gents.  Here, you get back!”

This was to Inspector Date, who had been keeping his ears and eyes open, and who was now racing for the end of the jetty.  Peering over, he uttered a loud cry.

“I thought so—­I thought so.  Here’s the nigger and the mummy!”

Hervey uttered a curse, and, plunging past the trio, careless of the leveled weapons, ran down to the end of the jetty, and, throwing his arms round Date, leaped with him into the sea.  They fell just beside the boat, as Random saw when he reached the spot.  A confused volley of curses arose, as the boat pushed out from the encrusted pile, the mate thrusting with a boat-hook.  Hervey and Date were in the water, but as the boat shot into the moonlight, Random—­and now Hope and De Gayangos, who had come up —­saw a long green form in amongst the sailors; also, very plainly, Cockatoo with his great mop of yellow hair.

“Shoot! shoot!” yelled Date, who was struggling with the skipper in the shallow water near shore.  “Don’t let them escape.”

Hope ran up the jetty and fired three shots in the air, certain that the firing would attract the attention of the four or five constables on guard at the cottage, which was no very great distance away.  Random sent a bullet into the midst of the boatload, and immediately the mate fired also.  The bullet whistled past his head, and, crazy with rage, he felt inclined to jump in amongst the ruffians and have a hand-to-hand fight.  But De Gayangos stopped him in a voice shrill with anger.  Already the shouts and noise of the approaching policemen could be heard.  Cockatoo gripped the green mummy case desperately, while the sailors tried to row towards the ship.

Then De Gayangos gave a shout, and leaped, as the boat swung past the jetty.  He landed right on Cockatoo, and although a cloud drifted across the moon, Random heard the shots coming rapidly from his revolver.  Meanwhile Hervey got away from Date, as the constables came pounding down the jetty and on to the beach.