"Stop the steamer!" shouted he, in tones of authority; and to those who had heard it before there was no mistaking that voice. It was Pillgrim, without a doubt! Somers was vexed and disappointed at this accident, which threatened to overthrow all his plans; but he promptly decided to treat him as he had Langdon. "See what he wants," said the commander to Swayne, "but don't let the ship be delayed a single instant." "Stop the steamer!" shouted Pillgrim, with a volley of oaths, because his first order had not been heeded. "Stop the steamer, or you will swamp my gig!" "Your business, sir, if you please," said Swayne, stepping up to him. "Don't you hear what I say?" replied Pillgrim, angrily. "Stop the steamer." "It can't be done, sir." "Can't be done!" gasped the traitor. "It can and shall be done." "Who are you, sir, that step upon this deck in that overbearing manner?" demanded the first lieutenant, roused by the tones and the manner of the new comer. "I'll let you know who I am. Where is Langdon?" "None of your business where he is," said Swayne, spunkily. "What do you want here?" "You shall soon know what I want here!" Pillgrim was boiling over with passion at the rough reception given him by his officers on board his own ship. He was disposed to be even more stern and severe in his discipline than Somers had been. "Who are you?" demanded Swayne. "None of your business who I am, if you don't know; but I will soon bring you to your senses," roared Pillgrim, as he leaped down upon the deck, and with the step of a conqueror moved aft towards the wheel. "Halt, sir!" said Mr. Swayne, placing himself in front of the stranger; for he was roused to a high pitch of anger and excitement by the unwarrantable conduct of the interloper. "You can go no farther on this deck, sir, till you explain who and what you are." Somers stood where he could see without being seen; for his presence on the deck of the Ben Lomond would have explained to Pillgrim the reason for his uncourteous reception. He quietly sent the two firemen and a couple of seamen to the assistance of Mr. Swayne. "I am the captain of this ship," replied Pillgrim, who found it necessary to make this statement. "The man is crazy," muttered Swayne. "You understand me now," growled Pillgrim. "Stop the ship!" "I think not, sir," replied Swayne, coolly; and he evidently regarded the claim of the stranger in the light of a joke, or as the whim of a maniac. "You think not!" gasped Pillgrim, roused almost to madness by this cool disregard of his authority. "I'll have you in irons in three minutes, you scoundrel." "There, sir, I have heard enough of this!" said Swayne. "No man uses such language as that to me with impunity." "I tell you I am the commander of this steamer," added Pillgrim, who doubtless felt that the epithet he had used was unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. "I don't care what you are. If your boat is alongside, you will go into it, in double quick time."