CHAPTER IX.
CANTOR FINDS HIS CHANCE Prompt action alone could save the women and children who lay cowering in the launch.
"Corporal, kneel with your men, and let them have it as fast as you can!" ordered Dave.

"Riley, get your men into the boat, and take the Colt with you.

Post it as fast as you can on the starboard quarter!" Dave himself stood behind the kneeling marines, a fair target for every hostile bullet.
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.
"Marines aboard!" yelled Darrin.
Almost in the same instant, loaded revolver in hand, Dave sprang to the gunwale and landed on the after deck.
Without waiting for the order from his chief, Schmidt cast off, with the aid of the single sailor under his own command.

The engineer went ahead at slow speed for a few seconds while Riley steered the launch clear of the wharf and headed for deeper, safer water.
"Half speed ahead!" shouted Darrin, as Schmidt sprang to the wheel, while Riley, snatching up his rifle, joined the fighting men.
Uttering howls of rage as they saw their prey escaping them, the Mexicans rushed out onto the wharf in a mad attempt to board before it was too late.
Three men would have succeeded in boarding the launch, had they not been shot down as they leaped for the after deck.
"Give it to them with the Colt, Corporal!" Dave called.