"No answer came; but the next moment there was a tremendous fall, and one of the men clung to the other, whom he held downward. I sprang from my berth. There were low voices out in the cabin.
"'You can't,' said one voice, which I recognized as Clark's. 'He has his pistols.'
"'He hasn't,' said the voice of Cigole. 'Potts took them away. He's unarmed.'
"'Who are you?' I cried, grasping the man who was holding the other down.
"'Uracao,' said he. 'Get your pistols or you're lost!'
"'What the devil is the matter?' I cried, angrily, for I had not even yet a suspicion.
"Hastily I put my hand up. A thrill of terror passed through me. It was the Thuggee cord.
"'Who is this?' I cried, grasping the man who had fallen.
"'Potts,' cried Uracao. 'Your pistols are under your berth. Quick! Potts tried to strangle you. There's a plot. The Lascars are Thugs. I saw the mark on their arms, the name of Bowhani in Hindu letters.'
"All the truth now seemed to flash across me. I leaped back to the berth to look under it for my pistols. As I stooped there was a rush behind me.
"'Help! Clark! Quick!' cried the voice of Potts. 'This devil's strangling me!'
"At this a tumult arose round the two men. Uracao was dragged off. Potts rose to his feet. At that moment I found my pistols. I could not distinguish persons, but I ran the risk and fired. A sharp cry followed. Somebody was wounded.
"'Damn him!' cried Potts, 'he's got the pistols.'
"The next moment they had all rushed out, dragging Uracao with them. The door was drawn to violently with a bang and fastened on the outside. They had captured the only man who could help me, and I was a prisoner at the mercy of these miscreants.
"All the remainder of the night and until the following morning I heard noises and trampling to and fro, but had no idea whatever of what was going on. I felt indignation at the treachery of Potts, who, I now perceived, had deceived me all along, but had no fear whatever of any thing that might happen. Death was rather grateful than otherwise. Still I determined to sell my life as dearly as possible, and, loading my pistol once more, I waited for them to come. The only anxiety which I felt was about my poor faithful Malay.
"But time passed, and at last all was still. There was no sound either of voices or of footsteps. I waited for what seemed hours in impatience, until finally I could endure it no longer. I was not going to die like a dog, but determined at all hazards to go out armed, face them, and meet my doom at once.