By this time the four men and myself were drawn up in line of battle. It was clear enough to the Wimpletonians that, if the action began, there would be some broken heads, if not bleeding bodies. However lightly they regarded bayonet wounds when the weapons were in their own hands only, they seemed to have a great respect for the cold steel in the hands of others. They formed their line in the act of charging bayonets; but they did not charge any. There they stood, arrested by the plaintive cry of their gallant leader. “Now, come out here, Feathers!” said Forbush, as he took Waddie by the collar, besmearing the major’s face with blood from his wounded hand, and trotting him up to the line. “Come up here again, and take command! Order these cubs upon the hurricane deck, or I will make short work of you!” The engineer emphasized his commands by shaking Waddie most unmercifully. “You let me alone!” howled the discomfited commander of the battalion. “I’ll let you alone when I have done with you,” added Forbush, as he twisted his gripe upon the collar of his victim, so as almost to choke him. “You’ll kill me!” gasped Waddie. “Will you give the order I told you?” “Send the fellows upon the hurricane deck!” whined Waddie to Dick Bayard, crying and howling at the same time. “Don’t do it, Dick!” said Pinkerton, who could not endure the thought of having the victory wrested from the conquerors in the very moment of their triumph. “Waddie says so. What can we do?” replied Bayard. “They don’t mind,” added Forbush, shaking the unfortunate major again. “Do as I tell you, Dick Bayard!” called Waddie, writhing under the torture. Very reluctantly the senior captain gave the order, and the Wimpletonians crept up the ladders to the hurricane deck. “Now let me alone!” growled Waddie, trying to shake off his powerful persecutor. “Hold still, Feathers!” replied Forbush, applying a little gentle force, as if to assure his victim that the tragedy was not yet ended. The engineer was now in excellent humor, and was exceedingly pleased with the turn he had given to the affair. “Ain’t you going to let me go now?” added the major, in a pleading tone. “Not yet, Feathers. You must give security for the good behavior of your crowd.” “What are you going to do with me?” asked Waddie. “I’m going to throw you overboard if you don’t behave like a man. Now, Captain Underwood, you can let out our boys. These rascals have locked them up in the cabin.” “Better get rid of the Wimps first,” I whispered to the captain. “What shall we do with these fellows?” he replied, with a significant glance at me, as he comprehended my meaning. “Land them at North Point,” I suggested. “Good!” laughed Forbush. “It is a poor rule that won’t work both ways. What do you say, Captain Underwood?” “Anything to get rid of them!” replied the captain, impatiently.