ype. All
this passed quickly through his mind as he stepped back and waited to
see what the men would do. He did not have many seconds to wait, for
Donaster, after peering keenly around as if expecting to see someone
else, turned impatiently toward Eben.

"Have you a young woman on this boat?" he asked.

"S'pose I have, what bizness is it of yours?" Eben retorted, now more
angry than ever.

"You'll know d---- quick whether it's my business or not if you don't
answer my questions."

"I don't have to. This boat's me own, an' I kin have anyone I like on
board. You clear out of this."

"Don't get insolent, you young cuss. Keep a civil tongue in your mouth
or it won't be well for you. I want to know if you have a young woman
on board?"

Eben did some quick, hard thinking just then. A spirit of natural
shrewdness came to his assistance, and a sudden idea flashed into his
mind. He could not fight these men single-handed, and win. He must
get them at a special disadvantage, and there was only one way in which
this could, be accomplished. He thought of the cabin.

"S'pose I have a woman on board, what of it?" he asked.

"We want her; that's all."

"Well, then, ye'll have to find her yerselves. Don't frighten her,"
and he motioned aft.

"What! In the cabin?" Donaster was much excited now.

Eben merely nodded, and stepped back.

"Come on, Bill," Donaster ordered. "I suspected she was here."

So intent were the two men upon their search that they paid no more
heed to Eben, but hurried at once toward the cabin. Had they been the
least suspicious and glanced back, they might have been more cautious.
They would have seen the young man they despised as of no account
following, his face clouded with anger, and bearing in his hands a
stout stick he had picked up from the deck. But sure of themselves,
the visitors reached the cabin and descended. No sooner had their
heads disappeared below the hatchway than Eben leaped forward, and
stood menacingly on guard above. In his hands he clutched the stick
and waited. He heard the men groping around below.

"It's as dark as h---- down here," Donaster was saying. "Hustle on
deck, Bill, and fetch that fool down to give us a light."

The man at once obeyed, but no sooner had he placed his right foot upon
the bottom step than a roar of warning greeted him from above. It was
Eben's voice, and there was no doubting its meaning.

"Come up an' I'll brain ye," he