“May I come up there?” she asked.

“Certainly; let me help you.  Stand here beside me, and you can see all that is being done.  That’s all, lads; breakfast is ready; lay down all except the lookout.”

We watched while they streamed down the ratlines and gathered forward of the galley, squatting in groups on the deck.  To all appearances the fellows had not a care in the world, or any thought of the stirring scenes just passed through.  The girl’s hand touched my sleeve, and I turned and looked into her face.

“A happy-go-lucky lot,” I said pleasantly.  “Real sailormen.  As long as they are fed and housed why worry about tomorrow.  I’ll put this job up to them presently.”

“The sailor who came into the cabin told me about your fight with the negro; you were not hurt?”

“Oh, I did not escape entirely free, but received no serious injury.  It is not to be thought about now, with all the work ahead.”

“The ship is safely in your hands?”

“I can hardly affirm that, Miss Dorothy.  The vessel is in our control, and the worst of the gang secured below.  I have confidence in the loyalty of only a very few of these fellows, and the others will have to be watched day and night as long as we remain afloat.  Those are desperate men locked below, and are bound to make some effort to free themselves.  If there is any treachery on deck it may lead to their release.”

“You were talking with Senor LeVere; I overheard a word or two.  He is not with you willingly?”

“No,” and I swept the deck seeking him, fearful what I said might be overheard.  “I distrust him more than any of the others.  Those men forward are seamen, and will abide by their mates.  Moreover they are accustomed to taking orders, and doing what they are told.  I believe I can handle them, with what help I have.  But the mulatto is different.  He belongs with the worst element on board, and only joined us from fear of being killed just as Estada was.  He has no heart in this job, and would accept any chance to square himself with those cut-throats below.  I’ll have trouble with him before we are done, but prefer to catch the man red-handed.”

“But what do you mean to do next?” she asked anxiously.  “There cannot be a moment of safety with those horrible creatures aboard.”

“True; yet with the material I am dealing with, I dare not venture too far.  Probably in that bunch forward there are men guilty of every crime in the calendar; as depraved as any we have below.  They have joined us for various reasons, but would desert and become ugly in an instant, if they suspected we might turn them over to the authorities.  There is only one safe course for me to pursue under these conditions; let them decide by vote what should be done.”

“What do you imagine such a vote will show?”

“That the vessel be beached on some remote coast, all the spoils aboard divided, and then the crew permitted to go where they please.  There will be some who may prefer continuing the cruise before destroying the bark, but I believe there are enough fairly honest fellows among them eager to escape this sort of life, to control.”