Manuel Estevan had a hand in the business, and he's safely locked in a stateroom aft.
Captain Sanchez is wounded and helpless, and those cut-throats amidships are battened down below hatches.

LeVere and I are the officers left, and we control the deck.

We had to fight it out, or likely it would be our turn next." "Yer mean those fellers were aimin' ter take the ship ?" "Exactly that; now where are you lads?
With Manuel and his bunch of pirates?
Or with us ?" "What er yer going ter do with us, an' this ship?
That's the fu'st question." I had not decided that even in my own mind, but the answer came promptly enough, as my eyes swept the faces fronting me.
"What's your name ?" "Ben MacClintock." "Well, MacClintock.

I am going to leave that to the crew.

As soon as we have all secure, I'll have every man on deck, and then we'll talk it over.