t, I tell you! I didn't want to go in!"

"If I forgive you, will you give me your word to behave yourself?"

"Yes, sir!"

"You won't do any more underhanded work?"

"You can shoot me if I do, captain."

"Very well; I'll remember that. Now go forward and help put the ship in
good order. Larry, set him to work, and see that he does just what you
tell him." And Wilbur went off, with the young second mate following,
thanking his stars that he had not been swung to the yardarm, for mutiny
on the high seas is a capital offense.

One by one the mutineers were allowed to come on deck, until only
Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven remained below. Those to come up pleaded
to be forgiven and promised to obey orders in the future and let the
captain run the ship to suit himself.

During the night, Groot had had a bitter quarrel with Semmel, and the
Russian appeared presently with a black eye and two of his front teeth
loose. He was promptly put in irons, and the handcuffing of Peterson and
Shamhaven followed.

"I have allowed the other men their liberty because you three led them
into this affair," said Captain Ponsberry to the trio of rascals. "I
intend to keep you in irons until the end of the trip."

At this there was a loud complaint, and the three made all manner of
protestations, but the master of the _Columbia_ was obdurate, and at
last threatened to throw them into the hold again. This quieted them for
the time being, and after being given a square meal and a drink of
water, they were marched off to the brig, which was cleaned of
everything else for their accommodation.

Fortunately for the _Columbia_ the weather remained fair, so that the
loss of the prisoners was not felt when it came to handling the
schooner. Those who had mutinied were only too glad to get back into
Captain Ponsberry's good graces and they did whatever was required with
an alacrity which was as astonishing as it was gratifying. They ate
whatever was set before them, and soon reached the conclusion that the
food was really better than they deserved.

"We were fools to follow Semmel," said Wilbur; and Conroy and some
others fully agreed with him.

But though it now looked as if the men could be trusted, Captain
Ponsberry determined to keep his eyes on them. Vincent was placed at the
head of one watch and Luke at the head of the other, so that, with one
or the other of the mates, the deck was always guarded by at least two
persons that could be