and Hans leaped on top of the hatch. "Nothing like holding 'em down!"
"Let us up!" roared Sid Jeffers, and a moment later a pistol shot rang out and a bullet came crashing through the hatch, but its force was so spent it merely bounced against Han's trouser leg.
"I vos hit! I vos hit!" shrieked the German youth, dancing around. "I vos a teat boy alretty!"
"Hans, are you really hit?" asked Dick, in alarm.
"Yah, but—I guess it ton't vos much," added Hans sheepishly, as he realized that no damage had been done.
"Here, hold it down with this," cried Dan Baxter and came forward with two capstan bars. These were placed across the hatch and the four boys took their stations at the ends of the bars. Thus they managed to get out of firing range of those below.
"This is certainly growing interesting," was Dick's comment, as there was a moment's suspension of hostilities. "I hardly know what to do next."
"If you don't let us up we'll blow up the ship!" yelled Gasper Pold. He was in a terrible fury.
"If you blow up the ship, you'll go up with her," answered Sam.
