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Updated: May 6, 2025
"Don't shoot, Riley!" panted Ensign Dave Darrin. "Stun him!" In a twinkling Riley reversed his clutch on his aimed rifle, bringing down the butt across the traitor's head. Cantor rolled over. "Shall I wind up this Greaser, sir?" asked one of the sailormen, thrusting the muzzle of his rifle against Cosetta's breast. "No!" Dave commanded, sharply. "We don't kill when we can take prisoners."
Assailed from two sides Cosetta's now leaderless band broke in wild confusion, and fled, leaving behind many dead and wounded. Quickly Trent surrounded the house, but there was no one inside. And then Trout came upon his subordinate. "Why, Darrin, you're hurt!" he cried, pointing to Dave's left arm. As the firing died out Dave glanced down at his sleeve.
"Can't you call in your party and make a quick dash down the lagoon?" inquired John Carmody, approaching, a rifle still gripped by one hand and a cartridge-belt thrown over one shoulder. "We can't travel fast in the lagoon, sir," Dave answered, "and Cosetta's men can run as fast along the shore, keeping up a fire that would be more deadly when we're crowded together aboard the launch.
"What was it, sir, that you did to provoke Cosetta into ordering his fellows to fire?" questioned Captain Gales. "Why, sir, I found and rescued the Americans after whom you sent me," Dave explained. "They were Cosetta's prisoners. There was not a shot fired on either side until after I had placed the released prisoners under the protection of my own men, and had started away with them.
Now Dan was climbing in through the window, helped by two seamen who had been left on guard outside. But the search of the house revealed only one dead Mexican, not in uniform, who had been killed by the sailormen's fire, and a trail of blood that must have been shed by the wounded enemy as they were carried away. "Bandits -Cosetta's men -not soldiers, this time," was Dan's instant guess.
Lieutenant Cantor, after one or two upward looks, bowed his head and kept his eyes to the ground, but I am positive, sir, of my identification of both men." "And Cosetta's bandits?" inquired Trent. "Did you see any signs of them?" "No, sir, but the adobe house is large enough to hide them all." "Any trenches near the house?" "No, sir."
Cosetta's men, lying on the ground, had failed to note Darrin's flanking movement, but had discovered Trent's advance. Suddenly the rear door flew open, and two men dashed out. "Halt!" shouted Dave, dashing forward. Cosetta reached for a revolver. Before he could produce it Darrin's bullet laid him low. But Cantor sprang at the young ensign with such force as to bear him to earth.
John Carmody, too, felt in honor bound to risk himself beside the young Navy ensign. "All sea-going, sir!" called Coxswain Riley. "Schmidt, make ready to cast off," sang back Darrin. Now the different groups of Mexicans, who had been halted for a minute under the brisk fire, saw their prey slipping away from them. With yells of fury, Cosetta's men rose and attempted the final charge.
"When we attack, Cantor and perhaps Cosetta, will try to escape from the rear of the house, making a quick dash for the interior, while Cosetta's men try to hold us in check. Therefore, Darrin, I am going to let you have fifteen men. You will make a wide detour of the house, and try to work to a position in the immediate rear.
"The exception, sir, is that Cosetta's fellows opened fire on us first." Dave Darrin stood looking straight into Captain Gales's eyes. "Ensign Darrin, did you do anything to provoke that fire?" asked the commanding officer. "Yes, sir," Dave admitted. "Ah!" breathed Captain Gales, while Cantor gave an almost inaudible ejaculation of triumph.
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