"I hate to leave six good horses to Urrea, an' that gang," he said, "but
I s'pose it has to be done."
"Don't grieve, Panther," cried Smith. "We'll take three for one later
on!"
"Hurry up! Hurry up!" said Roylston. "There is no time to waste. Into
the boats, all of you!"
They scrambled into the boats, reached the schooner, and pulled the
boats to the deck after them. There was not a minute to lose. The
schooner, her sails full of wind, was beginning to move, and the
Mexicans were already firing at her, although their bullets missed.
Ned and Will Allen threw themselves flat on the deck, and heard the
Mexican bullets humming over their heads. Ned knew that they were still
in great danger, as it was a mile to the open sea, and the Mexicans
galloping along by the side of the cove had begun a heavy fire upon the
schooner. But the Panther uttered a tremendous and joyous shout of
defiance.
"They can't hurt the ship as long as they ain't got cannon," he said,
"an' since it's rifles, only, we'll give it back to 'em!"
He and the other sharpshooters, sheltering themselves, began to rake the
woods with rifle fire. The Mexicans replied, and the bullets peppered
the wooden sides of the schooner or cut holes through her sails.
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