e too indignant just then to make any reply, though
they saw clearly the position in which poor Sam was placed. Captain
Hamet was walking the deck when they arrived alongside. He received
them in a somewhat stern fashion, and calling Jumbo, told him to say
that their treatment would depend on the way they behaved themselves.

"Tell him that as he has compelled us to come on board, we desire to
know what he requires us to do," said Stephen.

On this Captain Hamet beckoned them to come into the cabin. He then
placed several nautical instruments before them, with charts of the
Mediterranean, the western shores of Africa and Europe, extending as far
as England.

"He wants you to make good use of these to mark down every day the
course the ship has run,--her position at noon. He does not require you
to fight; indeed, if we meet an enemy, he will allow you to go below and
keep out of harm's way if you wish it."

"Under those circumstances I do not think we should wisely refuse to
obey him," observed Stephen.

"I would rather not have to do it," said Roger.

"But I do not see how we can get off, and we shall certainly, by
remaining on board, have a better chance of escaping than if we were
kept in slavery on shore," said Stephen. "Tell the Captain, Jumbo, that
we will do as he desires, though we would rather have been allowed to
pay a ransom for our liberty."

Hamet, smiling grimly, nodded his approval, and then sent for Sam, who
showed them a cabin which he told them they were to occupy.

"I am glad to hear, gentlemen, that you have agreed to do as the Captain
wishes. It would have been no earthly use to refuse, as he could have
compelled you with a pistol at your heads."

"I do not think he would have fired it, considering that he had paid a
high price for us, though he might have ill-treated us till he could
have obtained a price for setting us free."

"Well, as far as I can see, all you have got to do is to put a good face
on the matter, keep up your spirits, and navigate the ship carefully. I
warn you that if you do not do that, he will heave you overboard without
the slightest ceremony."

"Then we will do our best to navigate the _Tiger_ wherever the Captain
wants her to go; it won't be our fault if he some day catches a Tartar,
or runs his nose into a lion's den."

CHAPTER FIVE.

As the harbour was very shallow, the _Tiger_ had to haul out into the
outer roads, inside the island of Tedal, off