“I've done my trick here, Captain Candage, and it has been a good one. I only ask you to take your trick, as a shipmate should. Keep a dozen of the men here with you. There's plenty of grub. Stand off all comers till I get back.” “What are you going to do?” “Make a man's try, sir, before I let 'em dump us. We can always go fishing. But there's only one_ Conomo_.” “I'll stay. It's only fair to you to have your chance ashore. And I've got an almighty good rifle aboard that schooner,” stated the skipper. “Send it to me by one of the men.” “You may need it,” stated Captain Mayo, with grim set to his jaw. “You come with me. I want to show you a bird that flew aboard here the other day.” Outside the stateroom door he halted Captain Candage, who was following on his heels, taking Mayo's statement literally, and showing only mild interest. “Captain Candage, your man, Art Simpson, is in this stateroom. He came out here on a tug with a bag of dynamite, and intended to blow up this wreck.” “Gawd-a-mighty, ain't they going to stop at anything?” croaked the old skipper. “It's about time for us to find out how much of this is reckless devilishness on the part of hired men and how much the big men really know of what is being done on this coast, sir. And that's why I'm holding this man Simpson.” “Let me at him!” pleaded Candage. “I'll crack his shell for him! I'll get at his meat!” Mayo unlocked the door and walked in. “Simpson, you--” bawled the old skipper, and then halted in confusion, his mouth wide open. “This ain't Art Simpson!” he declared, after amazed survey of the glowering stranger. “Who be ye?” “None of your infernal business! When you do know who I am you'll discover that you have a tough proposition on your hands.” “We realize that already, without knowing your name,” retorted Mayo. “I'm not worrying; it's for you to do the worrying! I have given you your warning! Now take what's coming to you from the men who are behind me.” “What's your name--that's what I've asked you?” demanded Candage. “None of your business--that's what I have told you.” “We'll get some light on that subject after I have you on shore,” said Mayo. “Come on! You're going!” “Sooner the better!” agreed the stranger. “I'll relish seeing you get yours!” Mayo wasted no time. He sent his prisoner down the ladder to the dory ahead of him, and put out his hand to the old skipper. “If I can't do better I'll take that devil, whoever he is, by the heels, and bat out the brains of the other pirates.” “I reckon that they'll back down when they, see that you've caught him foul,” stated the skipper, consolingly. “I've got a lot of confidence in your grit, sir. But I must say it's a terrible tricky gang we're up against, so it seems to me.” “This may be just the right string for us to pull,” returned Mayo; “there's no pleading with them, but we may be able to scare 'em.”