If we were to retain our advantage there was no time to be lost; we were pitted now against Silva Sanchez, and he was a leader not to be despised or temporized with; no cowardly, brainless fool.
The passage leading forward was wide enough to permit of our advancing together and for a few steps the light dribbled in past us, quite sufficient for guidance, although our shadows were somewhat confusing.
There were closed doors on either side, evidently locked, as they refused to yield to the hand.

I took these to be storerooms, possibly containing spoils of the voyage, but gave them little other thought, my whole interest centered on the intense blackness ahead.

I had been down this tunnel once before, and knew the bulkhead was not far away, but the few steps necessary plunged us into profound blackness, through which we advanced cautiously with outstretched hands.

No slightest sound warned of danger and I was already convinced in my own mind that the refugees were not hiding there, when it happened.

Within an instant we were fighting for our lives, fronted not by two men, but by a score, who flung themselves cursing upon us.