As the man staggered up out of reach of the water Barbara Harding opened her eyes to look in astonishment into the face of the mucker.

CHAPTER IX

ODA YORIMOTO

Only four men of the Halfmoon’s crew were lost in the wreck of the vessel.  All had been crowded in the bow when the ship broke in two, and being far-flung by the forward part of the brigantine as it lunged toward the cove on the wave following the one which had dropped the craft upon the reef, with the exception of the four who had perished beneath the wreckage they had been able to swim safely to the beach.

Larry Divine, who had sat weeping upon the deck of the doomed ship during the time that hope had been at its lowest, had recovered his poise.  Skipper Simms, subdued for the moment, soon commenced to regain his bluster.  He took Theriere to task for the loss of the Halfmoon.

“An’ ever we make a civilized port,” he shouted, “I’ll prefer charges ag’in’ you, you swab you; a-losin’ of the finest bark as ever weathered a storm.  Ef it hadn’t o’ been fer you a-mutinyin’ agin’ me I’d a-brought her through in safety an’ never lost a bloomin’ soul.”

“Stow it!” admonished Theriere at last; “your foolish bluster can’t hide the bald fact that you deserted your post in time of danger.  We’re ashore now, remember, and there is no more ship for you to command, so were I you I’d be mighty careful how I talked to my betters.”

“What’s that!” screamed the skipper.  “My betters!  You frog-eatin’ greaser you, I’ll teach you.  Here, some of you, clap this swab into irons.  I’ll learn him that I’m still captain of this here bunch.”

Theriere laughed in the man’s face; but Ward and a couple of hands who had been shown favoritism by the skipper and first mate closed menacingly toward the second officer.

The Frenchman took in the situation at a glance.  They were ashore now, where they didn’t think that they needed him further and the process of elimination had commenced.  Well, it might as well come to a showdown now as later.

“Just a moment,” said Theriere, raising his hand.  “You’re not going to take me alive, and I have no idea that you want to anyhow, and if you start anything in the killing line some of you are going to Davy Jones’ locker along with me.  The best thing for all concerned is to divide up this party now once and for all.”

As he finished speaking he turned toward Billy Byrne.

“Are you and the others with me, or against me?” he asked.

“I’m ag’in’ Simms,” replied the mucker non-committally.

Bony Sawyer, Red Sanders, Blanco, Wison, and two others drew in behind Billy Byrne.

“We all’s wid Billy,” announced Blanco.

Divine and Barbara Harding stood a little apart.  Both were alarmed at the sudden, hostile turn events had taken.  Simms, Ward, and Theriere were the only members of the party armed.  Each wore a revolver strapped about his hips.  All were still dripping from their recent plunge in the ocean.