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"We are in luck's way, pup," he said "These rascals et the

better of us by sheer force of numbers, but there are not fifty of

thehter!"

The news that the Indians were advancing ran through the ship like

wildfire Including Mr Boyle, Frascuelo, and those a the Chileans

whose wounds were not serious, there were fourteen men available for

the defense Unfortunately, the supply of firearun and five revolvers constituted the armory, and one of the

pistols was in Christobal's pocket The supply of ammunition was so

small that the revolvers could not be reloaded more than three tiainst naked men,

an ounce of shot is far more effective than a bullet

The captain hoped to terrify the Indians before they attempted to scale

the ship's sides If various ruses failed, and the attack was pressed,

he had decided not to split up his small force in the effort to repel

boarders A scattered resistance would surely break down at one point

or another: there would be a rush of savages along the decks, a panic

a the Chileans, and all would be ended On the other hand, when

fighting collectively under European leadership, and well aware that