toggled," said the leader.

"What are we going to do?"

"Bring in the rest of our fellows; that is the first job. In my opinion
we can get over fifty of them now."

"I don't know about that," answered Wilton, doubtfully.

"I'm very sure we can. If we get enough to take the ship, we can have
all the rest as soon as we have done the job."

"Take the ship!" exclaimed Wilton, appalled at the idea.

"That's what we mean."

"I don't believe you can do it," replied the doubtful "link in the
Chain."

"It's the easiest thing in the world. The affair will come off at supper
time, when the professors are all in their cabin. All we have to do is
to clap the hatch on the after companion-way, and secure the doors
leading from the main cabin into the steerage. Then we have them, and
they can't help themselves."

"But the boatswain, carpenter, and sailmaker will be loose."

"No, they won't. At the right time, we will pass the word for them, and
say that Lowington wants to see them in the main cabin. As soon as they
go below we will put the hatch on."

"The cooks and stewards will still be at large."

"We can lock them up in the kitchen. If they make trouble, I have a
revolver," whispered Shuffles.

"A revolver! I won't have anything to do with it if you are going to use
pistols," said the alarmed confederate.

"It's only to look at; there will be no occasion to use it," answered
Shuffles, soothingly.

"There will be twelve men, besides the stewards, locked up in the main
cabin."

"That's so."

"How long do you suppose it would take them to break down the bulkhead
between the cabin and the steerage, or to climb up through the
skylight?"

"If they attempt anything of that kind, we can show them the revolver;
that will quiet them."

"You might frighten the parson in that way; but do you suppose men like
Mr. Lowington, Mr. Fluxion, and Peaks, who have been in the navy so
long, will be afraid of a pistol?"

"They won't want to be shot, if they have been in the navy all their
lives."

"Then you mean to shoot them?"

"They will think we do, and it will be all the same."

"I don't know about this business. I'm afraid the pistol might go off,
and hurt somebody."

"I suppose you could raise objections all night," added Shuffles,
contemptuously. "I'm not going to have any man tyrannize over me,
Wilton. I suppose if Lowington wants to pull every fellow's teeth out,
you won't object."

"I'm as much opposed to his