They were both taken to the boat, and there kept under strict
guard. The third man managed to get over to Kinlay.
Carver, on losing his pistol, had taken out his sheath knife, and
armed with this he fought with furious determination, standing with
his back against a wall of rock. One of his antagonists, in trying
to lay hold of his hand, was badly cut, and the other disabled by a
blow in the face. But when Carver was joined by his comrade there
was a rush of the cutter's men across the bridge, and the smugglers
were finally conquered.
They had yet to be brought over to the outer side of the stream,
however, and this was a work of no small difficulty. A couple of
the sailors walked over the narrow planks, one before and one
behind their prisoner, who made an unsuccessful attempt to break
loose.
Then Carver was brought to the bridge in a similar manner; and he
also attempted to escape by making a spring forward when he reached
the middle of the planks. His captors, however, were ready for him.
The man behind him had held his two hands, and when by main force
he got his right hand free, the sailor held with such a tight grip
to the other that Carver was pulled round and he overbalanced
himself.
A stiff struggle for mastery then took place. Kinlay was the
stronger man, and with his free hand he dealt the sailor a hard
blow on the chest.
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