without
consideration for my safety."

"So?" uttered the skipper, looking at Dave dully.

"So!" Darrin assured him.

"But den you die must vonce."

"Go ahead and kill me," Darrin dared him.

"But if you vill to reason yet listen--"

"You're wasting time and breath," Darrin assured him, coolly.

Just then something happened. Darrin, using a trick that he had learned
on the wrestling mat and had since perfected, threw both his arms around
the left arm of the "Olga's" skipper. Clasping his hands and pressing his
arms against the skipper's left arm, Dave gave a great heave and rolled
to his own left. The trick depended upon speed.

The skipper crashed over on his head. The revolver was discharged in the
overturn, but the bullet went wild.

In the twinkling of an eye Dave had grabbed the weapon, and leaped to his
feet just in time to dodge the hatch bar that the mate tried to smash
down on his head.

"Back, unless you want yours right now!" Darrin challenged. Swiftly he
changed the revolver into his left hand as he still covered the pair.
Then he reached for his own automatic, throwing off the safety device.

"Now, you, Mr. Mate, slip around and unbolt the door, throwing it open,"
Dave ordered. "Any sign of a trick will end your life on the spot!"

Seemingly cowed, the mate obeyed.

"Open the door--throw it wide open," Dave commanded.

The door was thrust ajar just as the two seamen with the tape reached the
bottom of the ladder coming from the deck. These two seamen stared in
astonishment at the stuffy apartment off the after hold.

"Men, take charge of these two rascals!" Darrin commanded, briskly. "Step
lively, both of you!"--this last to skipper and mate, who obeyed as
though dazed.

"Pass them up on deck as prisoners," ordered Darrin, and this was done,
the two seamen drawing their revolvers and standing by the "Olga's"
discomfited officers.

"Now, for your report," Darrin went on. One of the sailors reported the
deck-length from hatchway to stern-post.

"A difference of twenty-one feet," smiled Dave, darkly, pointing aft in
the hold. "You see, men, there are a good many feet of length to be
accounted for, which means that there is another compartment aft of this
hold. You," turning to one of the sailors, "go forward and request Ensign
Burton, with my compliments, to take charge of this steamer. He will
round up the crew and place them under guard. Then the ensign will leave
a petty officer in cha