, and the conspirators remained in
possession of the deck. The helm was taken by one of them; sail again
made on the cutter, and the boat with a boat-keeper towed astern.

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

WHICH IS RATHER INTERESTING.

Mr Vanslyperken's retreat was not known to the crew; they thought him
still on deck, and he hastened forward to secrete himself, even from his
own crew, who were not a little astonished at this unexpected attack,
which they could not account for. The major part of the arms on board
were always kept in Mr Vanslyperken's cabin, and that was not only in
possession of the assailants, but there was a strong guard in the
passage outside which led to the lower deck.

"Well, this beats my comprehension entirely," said Bill Spurey.

"Yes," replied Short.

"And mine too," added Obadiah Coble, "being as we are, as you know, at
peace with all nations, to be boarded and carried in this way."

"Why, what, and who can they be?"

"I've a notion that Vanslyperken's at the bottom of it," replied Spurey.

"Yes," said Short.

"But it's a bottom that I can't fathom," continued Spurey.

"My dipsey line ar'n't long enough either," replied Coble.

"Gott for dam, what it can be?" exclaimed Jansen. "It must be the
treason."

"Mein Gott! yes," replied Corporal Van Spitter. "It is all treason, and
the traitor be Vanslyperken." But although the corporal had some
confused ideas, yet he could not arrange them.

"Well, I've no notion of being boxed up here," observed Coble, "they
can't be so many as we are, even if they were stowed away in the boat,
like pilchards in a cask. Can't we get at the arms, corporal, and make
a rush for it?"

"Mein Gott! de arms are all in the cabin, all but three pair pistols and
the bayonets."

"Well, but we've handspikes," observed Spurey.

"Gott for dam, gif me de handspike," cried Jansen.

"We had better wait till daylight, at all events," observed Coble, "we
shall see our work better."

"Yes," replied Short.

"And in the meantime, get everything to hand that we can."

"Yes," replied Short.

"Well, I can't understand the manoeuvre. It beats my comprehension,
what they have done with Vanslyperken."

"I don't know, but they've kicked the cur out of the cabin."

"Then they've kicked him out too, depend upon it."

Thus did the crew continue to surmise during the whole night, but, as
Bill Spurey said, the manoeuvre beat their comprehension.

One thing was agree