captain waited until the men were drinking, and then he continued--

"I guess, boys, the next thing to do is to make our calculations. We've
had a smart month's work, and there's a matter of two hundred and fifty
pounds a man waiting for you when next you foot it in New York. That's
my calculation; and if there's one of you doubts it, he can see the
figures."

He waited for them to speak, but they gave him only a great shout of
approval, when he became more serious.

"You know, lads, there'll be a spell of holiday here for you, which you
may reckon that I regret as much as any of you. The skipper of the
American cruiser has made hell in Europe, and there's twenty cruisers
out after us if there's one. That I snap my fingers at; but fighting
isn't the game for you and me, who are looking for dollars; and we
won't hurt to lie low until the spring. Has any man got anything to say
against that?"

There was not a word in answer to the threatening question; and then
Black, bracing himself up to anger, went on--

"I now come to speak of a bit of business which you all want to hear
about. There was two of you refused a double watch when we left the
Yankee cruiser. Let 'em step forward."

One man, a dark-visaged Russian, with a yellow beard, stepped to the
table at the words, but he was alone.

"Where is Dave Skinner?" asked the captain in a calm, but horridly
meaning, voice.

"I guess he's sleeping on it," said the man Roaring John, whom I
noticed for the first time, curled up on a bench in the corner, the
bandages still upon his face.

"Kick him awake, the blear-eyed bullock," said Black, and the kicking
was done right heartily; the subject, a huge man with dark hair,
closely cropped, and a stubbly beard, rising to his feet and looking
round him like one dazed with strong drink.

"Wall," said he, speaking to Roaring John, "you big-booted swine, what
d'ye reckon ez you want along o' me?"

"Ask the skipper, cuss," replied the other, pushing the sleepy man
forward to the chair where the Russian stood; and then Black began to
speak to them quite calmly--

"Boys," he said, "I got it agen you that you refused my orders, and
refused them at a pinch when me and the rest of 'em ran for our lives.
Each of you lays the blame for this on the other, and I'm not going to
haggle about that. You know what we're bound by, and that I can't go
beyond what's written any more than you can go beyond it. There are two
of you in this,