It took the skilled labor of the professor, Washington and the boys to mend the break, and, even at that, it was four days in the repairing.  But at last the final bolt was in place, and the Mermaid was able to resume her trips through the air.

“We will rise the first thing in the morning,” said the professor to Mark and Jack that night.  “I am anxious to see how the ship behaves with a big load aboard.”

CHAPTER IX

 The mutiny

Mark was awakened that night by feeling some one trying to turn him over.  At first he thought it was Jack, and sleepily muttered that he wanted to be let alone.

“Sorry I can’t oblige ye, my hearty!” exclaimed a rough voice in his ear, “but I got particular orders t’ tie you up!”

At that Mark tried to sit up, but he found he could not.  He discovered that he was closely bound with many turns of a rope, while in front of his bunk stood one of the rescued sailors.

“There,” said the man, with a final tightening of the ropes.  “I guess you’re safe.”

“What’s the matter?  What does it all mean?” asked Mark, much bewildered.

“It means that we have possession of the ship,” the sailor answered, “and, if you’re wise you’ll not make a fuss.  It wouldn’t do any good, anyhow, as all your friends are in the same condition.”

Then, picking Mark up, as if he was a baby, the man slung him over his shoulder and carried him to the living room.  There Mark saw Jack, the professor, Washington, and the others similarly bound.

“Do you realize what you are doing?” asked the professor angrily of his captors.  “You are mutinying, and are liable to severe punishment.”

“If they ever get us,” added one of the men.  “We’ve got the ship now, and we mean to keep her.  You’ll have to run her or show us how.”

“Never!” cried the professor.

“I guess he will when he feels this,” said one of the men, as he dragged from a recess two wires.  “I happen to know something of electricity, and when he feels these perhaps he’ll change his mind.  I’ll start the dynamo.”

The sailor showed that he was acquainted with machinery, for soon the hum of the electric apparatus was heard.

“Now to make him tell!” the man with the wires exclaimed, advancing toward the professor, who turned pale.

“Stop!  You must not torture the old man!” cried a voice, and the mate of the Good Hope stepped in front of the sailor with the electrified wires.

“Who’s going to stop me?” asked the man.

“I will.  It’s not necessary,” the mate went on quickly.  “If we make him weak we may kill him, and he can not tell us what we want to know.  One of the boys can tell us how to run the ship.”

The mate came quickly over to where Mark lay, and whispered: 

“Consent to tell.  It is the only way of saving his life.  Tell ’em how to raise the craft.  Then leave all to me.  I will save you all and the ship, too, if I can.  But consent.”