t stop us!" yelled back Gasper
Pold, and started to mount the iron ladder with a long wrench. This
instrument he placed under a corner of the hatch and began to pry
the wooden barrier upward.

"Not so fast!" sang out Tom, and rushing up he sprawled over the
hatch and caught the end of the wrench. "One good wrench deserves
another!" he muttered, his love of fun coming to the surface even in
such a pitch of excitement, and with that he gave the wrench a wrench
that brought it from Pold's grip and allowed the hatch to fall into
place.

"All aboard!" sang out Tom, and Dick, Sam, and Hans leaped on top of
the hatch. "Nothing like holding 'em down!"

"Let us up!" roared Sid Jeffers, and a moment later a pistol shot
rang out and a bullet came crashing through the hatch, but its force
was so spent it merely bounced against Han's trouser leg.

"I vos hit! I vos hit!" shrieked the German youth, dancing around.
"I vos a teat boy alretty!"

"Hans, are you really hit?" asked Dick, in alarm.

"Yah, but--I guess it ton't vos much," added Hans sheepishly, as he
realized that no damage had been done.

"Here, hold it down with this," cried Dan Baxter and came forward
with two capstan bars. These were placed across the hatch and the
four boys took their stations at the ends of the bars. Thus they
managed to get out of firing range of those below.

"This is certainly growing interesting," was Dick's comment, as there
was a moment's suspension of hostilities. "I hardly know what to do
next."

"If you don't let us up we'll blow up the ship!" yelled Gasper Pold.
He was in a terrible fury.

"If you blow up the ship, you'll go up with her," answered Sam.

"Gracious, vill da do dot?" asked Hans, in alarm.

"No, they'll not be so foolish," answered Tom. "They value their
worthless hides too much."

"You've nearly killed Sack Todd and we'll have you arrested for it,"
went on Gasper Pold.

"You'll be nearly killed if you don't look out," answered Dick. "We
are in possession and we mean to keep in possession."

"You can't run the boat without the engine."

"Yes, we can, for the sails are ready for use. We won't have to run,
though. By morning we expect to sight some other vessel and then
we'll get help."

"What have you done with those two sailors?" asked Sid Jeffers.

"Put them where they can't do any harm."

"Where is Baxter?" asked Pold.

"That is for you to find out."

"I am here," said the former bully of Putnam Hal