for, with all lights out, a
watch was necessary.

But nothing happened. The men snored away their drunkenness, and at
daylight most of them were awake and aware of their plight. Denman paid
no attention to their questions; but, when the light permitted, went on
a search for the arms and irons, which he found in the forecastle,
carefully stowed in a bunk.

He counted the pistols, and satisfied himself that all were there; then
he carried them aft to his room, belted himself with one of them, and
returned for the cutlasses, which he hid in another room.

But the irons he spread along the deck, and, while they cursed and
maligned him, he replaced the silk and spun-yarn fetters with manacles
of steel. Next he dragged the protesting prisoners from forward and aft
until he had them bunched amidships, and then, walking back and forth
before them, delivered a short, comprehensive lecture on the unwisdom of
stealing torpedo-boat destroyers and getting drunk.

Like all lecturers, he allowed his audience to answer, and when he had
refuted the last argument, he unlocked the irons of Billings and Daniels
and sternly ordered them to cook breakfast.

They meekly arose and went to the galley, from which, before long,
savory odors arose. And, while waiting for breakfast, Denman aroused
Miss Florrie and brought her on deck, clothed and bandaged, to show her
his catch.

"And what will you do now, Billie?" she asked, as she looked at the
unhappy men amidships.

"Haven't the slightest idea. I've got to think it out. I'll have to
release some of them to work the boat, and I'll have to shut down and
iron them while I sleep, I suppose. I've already freed the two cooks,
and we'll have breakfast soon."

"I'm glad of that," she answered. "There was no supper last night."

"And I'm hungry as a wolf myself. Well, they are hungry, too. We'll have
our breakfast on deck before they get theirs. Perhaps the sight will
bring them to terms."

"Why cannot I help, Billie?" asked the girl. "I could watch while you
were asleep, and wake you if anything happened."

"Oh, no, Florrie girl. Of course I'll throw the stuff overboard, but I
wouldn't trust some of them, drunk or sober."

Billings soon reported breakfast ready, and asked how he should serve
the captives.

"Do not serve them at all," said Denman, sharply. "Bring the cabin table
on deck, and place it on the starboard quarter. Serve breakfast for two,
and you and Daniels eat your own in