Kidnapped

From Chapter 4 "Steady on, lad!" Alan roared. I heard the terrible clang of metal upon metal. Over my shoulder I saw Alan dodge and then run a man through with his blade.Just then one of the crew tried to come in through the window. I had never fired a pistol in my life, but it was now or never. And just as he swung his leg over the sash, I cried out "Take that!" and pulled the trigger.My attacker screamed and fell backward, but another one took his place. I fired with the second pistol and watched as this sailor also reeled back, grabbing his chest. Then I looked around -- the roundhouse was filling with the smoke of my shots. And though the ship lurched violently in the turbulent ocean, there was Alan, standing as before, with his sword running blood to the hilt.Swelled with triumph, and looking invincible, Alan turned to me and shouted, "Recharge your pistols! They'll come through the skylight next."And sure as the world, the glass of the skylight was dashed into a thousand pieces, and a man leaped through and landed on the floor. I grabbed at my ammunition to reload, but, to my horror, I spilled the bag of bullets. As the ship rocked, every last one ran off the table and onto the floor.The man drew his dirk from his belt. I backed away from him and grabbed at the wall. Just as my hand found the handle of a cutlass, the ship lurched again. The intruder grabbed my shoulder for balance, but only succeeded in toppling us both over.As the crest of a wave crashed through the open window, I scrambled to be rid of my attacker. But the ship was listing badly, and instead of finding the floor, I was climbing the tilting wall. As I reached for the window and clawed at its pane, a hand grabbed me from below. I kicked at it violently.The ship suddenly righted itself, and I found myself more out the window than in it. And through the haze of the gun smoke, I saw the determined Alan Over my shoulder I saw Alan dodge and then run a man through with his blade. Abridgment copyright 2004 by Timothy MeisIllustrations copyright 1913 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. From Chapter 4 Breck Stewart fighting for his life as Hoseason's crew led another assault through the door. The sword in his hand flashed like quicksilver into the huddle of our enemies, and at every flash there came the scream of a man wounded.This was my last image of the inside of the Covenant, for as I tried to make my way back into the roundhouse, a tremendous crash came from belowdecks. With a mighty jolt, the ship seemed to shake me off its side, and I plunged back-first into the stinging cold ocean. I clawed at the surface of the sea until I felt something solid. Abridgment copyright 2004 by Timothy MeisIllustrations copyright 1913 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.Stevenson, Robert Louis is the author of 'Kidnapped', published 2004 under ISBN 9780689865428 and ISBN 0689865422.