, sure, we are in it. But we are ready for 'em,
my boy. All's in shipshape for friend or foe. We've set a smiling face
to the fore, my lad, but a broad laugh would uncover some moighty sharp
teeth." At this moment the mate hurriedly entered the cabin and saluted.

"What is it, Suarez?" asked the captain, quickly.

"Smoke off the starboard bow, sir."

"Can you make her out?"

"Not yet, sir."

"Call me when you can."

The mate saluted again and retired. The captain turned away from Harry
unceremoniously, and Bert and Mason having joined him, the boys went on
deck. There was no change apparent that would have accounted for the
strange noises that had awakened them, except that the hatches were now
fastened down with heavy iron bars and the little forward hatch where
Harry had made his first tour of inspection was guarded by two men, who
stood with folded arms on either side. There were now two men on lookout
aft as well as forward. They paced slowly to and fro, their eyes fixed
astern. Amidships, on both the starboard and port sides, a man walked
backward and forward over a space of about fifteen feet, always closely
scanning the sea on either side. Off the starboard bow could be seen a
thin thread of smoke that rose almost perpendicularly in the still air.

The boys had never before seen so many men on deck at the same time.
Not a word was spoken as the lookouts fore and aft passed and repassed
each other. On the bridge both mates were on duty.

"Say, where do you suppose all these dummies sprang from, anyway?" asked
Mason, as he surveyed the scene in astonishment. "I wonder if there are
any more where they came from?"

"Let's go down and interview our friend Sambo," said Harry. "He has been
growing communicative lately. Yesterday he deigned to say 'Yas, sah.'
Maybe we can coax something more out of him."

When they reached the galley, to the boys' great surprise, the negro
poked his head out over the half door and grinning broadly, said:

"Mornin', sahs."

"Why, Sambo," said Bert, in astonishment, "where did you find your
tongue?"

"Always pick it up again in danger zone, sah."

"There goes that danger zone again," said Mason, in disgust. "I don't
believe there is any danger between here and the equator, Sambo."

"Name not Sambo, sah. George Washington Jenks, New York, U. S. A., at
yo' service, gents."

Finding the negro in such an unusual mood the boys grouped themselves
about the door intending to d