Just then we heard some of them awake. In a moment thee men came out of the grove and started down to the shore.
"Are these the ringleaders?" I asked.
"No," answered the captain.
"Well, then, let them go," I said; "but if the rest escape, it will be your fault."
With a musket in his hand and a pistol in his belt, the captain started forward. I was close at his side, while Friday and the other two men went a little ahead of us.
The mate in his eagerness chanced to step on some dry sticks which broke with a sharp noise beneath his feet. One of the seamen, hearing this, looked out and saw us.
He gave the alarm. The sleeping wretches awoke and sprang to their feet. But it was too late. Our guns were already upon them.
I need not tell you of the fight. It was sharp and short.
At its close the two ruffians who had caused all this trouble were lying dead upon the ground. The three other men, who were but slightly hurt, were our prisoners. As for my little army of five, not one was so much as scratched.
While the captain and I were binding the prisoners, Friday and the mate ran to the boat and brought away the oars and the sails.
Soon the three men who had gone down the shore came hurrying back to see what was the matter.
When they saw how matters stood, they at once gave themselves up and were bound with the rest. So our victory was complete.
We now retired to the castle.
The prisoners were led into the back part of the cave that I had first dug, and were left there with Friday as their guard.
With the captain, the mate, and the passenger, I went into my best room, where we all refreshed ourselves with such food as I had at hand.
We had now time to talk over the past and make plans for the future.
I told the captain my whole history just as I have told it to you. He, in his turn, related to me the story of his voyage from England to the West Indies, and how his crew, wishing to become pirates, had seized upon the ship and made him their prisoner.
"There are still twenty-six men on board," he said. "They are no doubt wondering what has become of their fellows. After a while some of them will be likely to come on shore to find out what is the matter."
"Let them come," I said. "We will be ready for them."
We therefore went down to the shore where the boat was still lying.
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