uthority; Martin
concluded he was the mate of Carew's yellow following, perhaps the
fellow, Asoki, Wild Bob had mentioned.

The mate turned from Ichi and hallooed forward. A man who was sitting
on the sunny deck, abaft the galley, arose and came aft in obedience to
the hail. Martin saw the fellow carried one of the _Cohasset's_
rifles. He paused while Ichi gave him some terse directions, then he
passed Martin and entered the cabin. Ichi and Asoki then proceeded to
inspect the boat overside.

Martin's eager eyes ranged about the decks. What he saw did not
encourage his hopes. For just before him, on the main hatch, sat two
impassive yellow men, one with a rifle across his knees, the other
holding a shotgun. Forward, the galley blocked his view of the
fore-hatch; but an armed man leaned against the rail at the break of
the forecastle. So he knew that both hatches were well guarded from
the deck.

The two men on the main hatch were of alert and efficient appearance;
and Martin knew that Carew's men, being seal-hunters, must be
experienced and expert shots. Martin regarded them gloomily. What
chance for a successful rising in the face of these armed watch-dogs?
The lads would be slaughtered, even though their numbers were even.

The Japs before him were dressed in clothes he recognized as belonging
to his shipmates. He concluded that the invaders were already
domiciled in the forecastle; probably a half of them were even then
occupying the imprisoned men's bunks. Even so, the few armed men on
deck would be more than a match for the boatswain.

If he only knew what time the boatswain would make his attempt! It was
ten in the morning now--he had noticed the cabin clock--and the
boatswain might wait till night, not knowing of the shore expedition.
How long could he manage to hold the party ashore? If there only was
some other, safer plan! Plan! What was it Ruth tried to tell him?
Had she also a plan?

Such were Martin's troubled thoughts during the moment of his leisure.
They were black bodings, and they almost killed the cheerful spark that
had been born in his heart during the tilt of wits in the cabin. The
menacing peace of the deck occupied all his mind. He barely noticed
the mountain looming blackly beyond the ship's bows, and on either side.

Smoke was pouring out of the galley smoke-stack. The rattle of pots
against iron came to his ears. Yip was preparing another meal; the
Japs, Martin refl