The boat darted alongside of the cutter. She pulled ten oars; but, as soon as she was alongside, a number of armed men sprang from her on the decks, and beat the crew below, while Ramsay, with pistols in his belt, and his sword in his hand, went aft to Vanslyperken. "What is all this?" exclaimed the terrified lieutenant. "Nothing, sir, but common prudence on my part," replied Ramsay. "I have an account to settle with you." Vanslyperken perceived that his treachery was discovered, and he fell upon his knees. Ramsay turned away to give orders, and Vanslyperken darted down the hatchway, and gained the lower deck. "Never mind," said Ramsay, "he'll not escape me; come, my lads, hand up the boxes as fast as you can." Ramsay then went to the boat, and brought up Wilhelmina, who had remained there, and conducted her down into the cabin. The boxes were also handed down, the boat made fast, and the conspirators remained in possession of the deck. The helm was taken by one of them; sail again made on the cutter, and the boat with a boat-keeper towed astern. CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. WHICH IS RATHER INTERESTING. Mr Vanslyperken's retreat was not known to the crew; they thought him still on deck, and he hastened forward to secrete himself, even from his own crew, who were not a little astonished at this unexpected attack, which they could not account for. The major part of the arms on board were always kept in Mr Vanslyperken's cabin, and that was not only in possession of the assailants, but there was a strong guard in the passage outside which led to the lower deck. "Well, this beats my comprehension entirely," said Bill Spurey. "Yes," replied Short. "And mine too," added Obadiah Coble, "being as we are, as you know, at peace with all nations, to be boarded and carried in this way." "Why, what, and who can they be?" "I've a notion that Vanslyperken's at the bottom of it," replied Spurey. "Yes," said Short. "But it's a bottom that I can't fathom," continued Spurey. "My dipsey line ar'n't long enough either," replied Coble. "Gott for dam, what it can be?" exclaimed Jansen. "It must be the treason." "Mein Gott! yes," replied Corporal Van Spitter. "It is all treason, and the traitor be Vanslyperken." But although the corporal had some confused ideas, yet he could not arrange them. "Well, I've no notion of being boxed up here," observed Coble, "they can't be so many as we are, even if they were stowed away in the boat, like pilchards in a cask. Can't we get at the arms, corporal, and make a rush for it?" "Mein Gott! de arms are all in the cabin, all but three pair pistols and the bayonets." "Well, but we've handspikes," observed Spurey. "Gott for dam, gif me de handspike," cried Jansen. "We had better wait till daylight, at all events," observed Coble, "we shall see our work better." "Yes," replied Short. "And in the meantime, get everything to hand that we can." "Yes," replied Short.