"Whot's that?" the sailor queried, noticing the commotion about the wheel. "Your captain, you scoundrel!" that individual replied. "And now I guess we have got you fellows where you belong. The first man that starts for this deck gets what you all deserve." "Tim!" called Tom. "You and the mate take the starboard ladder, and I'll try the port. Don't let 'em get within twenty feet of you. And don't be afraid to use those muskets. That's what we've toted 'em up here for." "That's it," replied Tim. "There'll be none of the crowd gets past us this night." "Aye, aye," chimed in the mate. "We'll do our part and you just holler if you want any help." "Oh, I'll be all right," answered Tom confidently. "I don't think those fellows are armed and I guess these guns won't appeal to them very favorably." "Hard-a-lea!" yelled the captain. "I'm going to try to hold her on the other tack and see if we don't fetch up somewhere near the shore." "Let her go," responded Tom. "Guess the nearer that we get to land the better it will be for us." "We can't do much toward working the ship," the captain said, "but I don't see why we can't hold her in the right direction as long as we have control of the wheel and the mainsail." "Which we have," put in Tim. "Yes, just at present," responded the mate, at his side. "But there's no telling for how long." "Ahoy, on deck!" came a cry from the cabin. "What's all this? Let us out, you lubbers!" "Can't be done, me boys," called out Tim. "We have quite enough av us here now." This was followed by muffled blows on the cabin doors, but the heavy oak and the iron bar withstood all attempts to force it, and after further ineffectual efforts the group within abandoned their efforts and sought escape in other directions. Tom could now distinguish the men on the lower deck quite plainly, and in a minute or two, one of them came aft toward him. "You fellows might as well give in now as ever," said the sailor. "We will get you anyhow, and it will go hard with you if we have any trouble with you." "Well, if you leave it to us," answered Tom, "we prefer to be gotten later, and in the meantime, let me warn you that the next man that comes within twenty feet of these ladders gets what you all deserve." "That's fine talk, young fellow, but--" and just then the sailor drew back his arm, hurled something violently at Tom and sprang back before Tom could recover from his surprise. A shining streak went past him and buried itself for an inch in the rail. "It's a knife," called out the captain. "You want to be a little more careful and not let them get near enough again." "You bet I will," replied Tom, startled by his narrow escape. There was a moment's lull in the excitement, and then a crash resounded from directly below Tim's feet. "Ouch!" yelled the Irish boy, and discharged his musket wildly into the darkness. "That was only a bucket of paint," said Tom. "Don't be so free with your bullets."