o
Larry and Grandon. "If he won't talk now, perhaps he'll talk after he
has spent a day in the brig."

"Vat! you put me in irons!" shrieked Semmel. "You no got right to do
dat, no!"

"Haven't I?" answered Captain Ponsberry, in a voice that cut like a
whip. "I'd like to see anybody dispute over it. Larry, Tom, do as I
command."

"Yes, sir," answered Larry, and ran off to get a pair of handcuffs while
Tom Grandon stationed himself beside Ostag Semmel, belaying pin in hand.

"You no mak me a prisoner!" fumed the bearded sailor. "You got no
right!"

He continued to rave, saying that it was a plot against him, because he
had been the first to complain about the vile food served to the hands;
that he had not been near the galley and that the captain, Grandon, and
Larry knew it. He even appealed to the other sailors to stand by him,
and several came forward to argue with Captain Ponsberry. But the master
of the schooner was obstinate and would not listen.

"I know what I am doing, men," he said, quickly but firmly. "He is a
scoundrel and a spell in the brig will do him good. After this I reckon
you'll find the grub all right."

"I no like--" began Peterson, once more.

"You shut up, Peterson, or I'll put you in the brig with Semmel," cut in
the captain, and Peterson fell back with the rest, but with a brow that
was dark and distrustful.

By this time Larry had returned with the handcuffs and despite the
resistance he offered, Ostag Semmel was made a prisoner. Then the first
and the second mates led him to the schooner's brig,--a narrow, V-shaped
room in the bow of the boat, usually used for storing lanterns and oil.
The smell in the closet--for it was nothing else--was far from pleasant,
and a day in the brig usually made a prisoner repent and promise to do
better.

"I mak trouble for dis!" growled Semmel, as the door was closed and
bolted on him. "I mak trouble, yes! You got no right to do dis, no!"

"And you haven't any right to doctor the grub," answered Larry, and then
he and Grandon walked away.

"That fellow is a first-class villain, to my way of reasoning," was the
first mate's comment. "I believe he'd do almost anything to get square
for this."

After Ostag Semmel had been placed in the brig Captain Ponsberry called
all hands to him once more and related what Luke and Larry had seen. The
stew was inspected, but nothing suspicious could be seen about it.

"If any of you want to try that stew you may d