"Shall we go up?"

"Keep back there!" was the call from above. "Put a step on those stairs
and it will be the worse for you!"

At that moment came a cry from Cal Vincent. The boatswain had been
attacked from behind and was given no chance to defend himself. Then
came a roar from Jeff, who came rushing toward the companionway as if
all the demons of the deep were behind him.

"Sabe me! sabe me!" he screamed. "Da is gwine to pirate de ship! Sabe
me!" And then he came plunging down headlong, directly on top of Larry,
Luke, and the prostrate captain.

This unexpected coming of Jeff sent the young second mate and the old
tar flat on Captain Ponsberry, and for the moment there was a struggle
all around. In the meantime some sailors on the deck began to drag a
heavy hatch toward the stairs. Soon this was placed in position, and
then those below were virtually prisoners.

"Oh my, sabe me!" groaned Jeff once more, as he managed to get on his
feet in the cabin, followed by Larry and Luke. "Don't you let dem swing
me from de yardarm!"

"Jeff, where are Grandon and Vincent?" demanded Larry.

"I dunno, sah--dead, I guess," answered the cook. "Oh, dis am de
awfulest t'ing wot I eber heard tell ob!" he added, woefully, and wrung
his hands.

The lantern in the cabin was turned up and Larry gave his attention once
more to Captain Ponsberry, who was now opening his eyes.

"Oh, my head!" came with a shiver. "My head!"

"I'm glad they didn't kill you," said Larry, kindly. "Luke, help me
carry him into the cabin. We'll put him on the couch."

This was done, and they did what they could to make the master of the
schooner comfortable. But it was a good half-hour before Captain
Ponsberry could sit up and do any rational thinking.

On deck all had become suddenly quiet. Occasionally those below could
hear a footstep near the companionway, showing that one or more of the
mutineers were on guard. The hatch shut off the view on deck, and the
windows in the ceiling of the cabin were also boarded over from the
outside.

"They have us like rats in a trap," said Larry, bitterly.

"And for all we know Vincent and Grandon are both dead," returned Luke
Striker, soberly. "I must say, lad, we seem to be in a bad way and no
mistake."

"Dey'll throw us overboard, I know dey will!" groaned Jeff, who was
almost white with terror. "I neber see sech goin's-on in all ma life!"

To fight the mutineers further was, just then, out of the questio