they may get out!"

"Aye, aye, sir!" cried the young second mate, and ran off with all
speed. The hatch was large and heavy, but the excitement lent him
strength and he dragged it forward and threw it over the hatchway.

"Stop dat!" roared Semmel, in a drunken voice, but Larry paid no
attention. His next movement was toward the cabin.

"Don't yo' tech me!" roared Jeff, in alarm. "Oh, it am yo'!" he added,
as he recognized Larry. "How am de battle gwine?"

"We've got 'em on the run--four are prisoners in the hold," was Larry's
reply. "Get me that box of nails, Jeff--I must put that door back as it
was!"

"Yes, sah; yes, sah!" answered the cook, eagerly, and brought forth the
nails in question. Then he helped to put the door into place, and held
it while Larry nailed the barrier. The job was just completed when the
young second mate heard voices from the hold.

"Hi, dare, you let us out," came from Peterson. "Ve vill mak it right,
yes!"

"You keep quiet," ordered Larry, and would say no more. Against the door
he and Jeff placed several trunks and boxes taken from the staterooms
opening off of the cabin.

During this time the party led by Captain Ponsberry had attacked the
balance of the mutineers. There was a brief fight and Shamhaven got a
cutlass cut on the knee. But then the men surrendered, and one after
another was made to drop down into the hold, and the hatch was shut and
battened down.

The only man who was not thus made a prisoner was Conroy, who begged at
once to be forgiven.

"They got me to drink, captain," he pleaded. "I didn't know what I was
doing. Forgive it, and I'll be the best man you ever had on board."

"Can I depend upon you, Conroy?" asked Captain Ponsberry, sternly.

"You can, sir--I give you my word on it."

"You won't try to help the mutineers?"

"No, sir; no, sir!"

"Very well then, I'll try you. But, remember, if you try any dirty work
it will go hard with you. Now tell me, was Wilbur in favor of this
mutiny?"

"No, sir, he was not. Semmel forced him into it."

"What of the others. Who were the ringleaders?"

"Semmel and Peterson and Shamhaven. The others didn't want to do
anything but complain about the grub," answered Conroy, and then told
the particulars of the mutiny from beginning to end.

CHAPTER IX

CLOSE TO A WATERSPOUT

It was decided to leave the mutineers in the hold undisturbed until
morning. This done, those who had been hurt in the scrimmage ha