“This is my stateroom, and though I might give it up to your mother, badly as she has behaved”-- “She has behaved like a heroic Christian woman, and whether you consent or not, she shall occupy this room,” answered Louis firmly. “Let her occupy the room!” exclaimed the captain, who seemed now to have some other object than to dispute the occupancy of the room in view. “Thank you, Captain Scoble,” said Louis, bowing, for he never forgot his politeness, which was something more substantial than mere bowing and scraping. “But all my things are in that room, and I desire to go in and get some of them,” continued the captain; and Louis concluded that he wanted to procure the pair of revolvers of which he had already obtained possession. “I am sorry to disoblige you, but you cannot go into the room at present, for it is occupied by a lady,” replied Louis. “My night-shirt is in there.” “Then I am afraid you will have to sleep in your day-shirt if you sleep at all.” Louis moved away from the door, and the captain retreated before him, apparently expecting to receive a blow on the head from the club, as he had on another occasion; and he therefore knew that the young man had the pluck to strike. “This is mutiny!” howled Scoble, evidently unable to control himself any longer. “So you suggested once before, and I dare say it is mutiny,” replied Louis indifferently. “I will have you put in irons!” gasped the captain, almost foaming at the mouth. “Bring on your irons,” added the mutineer carelessly. Captain Scoble took a pair of rusty handcuffs from the table drawer, and marched towards the rebel as magnificently as though he had already executed his terrible threat. He went as near his intended victim as he dared to go, and then cast them at his feet, the irons making a ringing noise as they struck the floor. “There they are!” exclaimed Scoble. “All right; but when you put them on it will be necessary for me to be present, and you will kindly let me know when you are ready to perform the ceremony.” “I will let you know, you young scoundrel!” “Thank you, captain. The things won’t do any harm on the floor, and I am willing to let them remain there till you are ready to put them on. By the way, don’t you think you had better have them cleaned before you make use of them? for they look as though they were too rusty to be comfortable.” “You will find them very comfortable when you are shut up in the hold, you impudent rascal!” cried the captain, dancing about in his inability to contain himself. “Probably I shall when I am shut up in the hold. Very likely you will look upon it as mutiny, but I can’t help hinting that I have not the least idea of being shut up in the hold. I am at liberty just now, and I intend to remain free.” “You won’t be free long!” yelled the captain, as he darted towards the companion-way, no doubt with the intention of calling some of the crew to his assistance.