While he was absent, Louis and his companion moved towards Scoble, still lying on the divan. He did not notice them, and he appeared to be asleep. It had been a mighty calm to him after the excitement of his interview with Mrs. Belgrave, and a sailor drops asleep very readily. Felix joined them presently, with a single revolver in his hand, saying he could find no more. Louis had brought with him the handcuffs the captain of the Maud had cast upon the floor. He had examined them, and found they closed with a heavy spring, and worked well enough. Scoble did not move as the trio approached him; and certainly he had been very accommodating to take his nap at just that time. “Leave the rest of this matter to me, Louis; I can handle that man better than I could a live lobster,” said Captain Ringgold, who was a rather large and muscular man. “You may speak to him, Louis, and then I will take care of him.” “Captain Scoble!” said the chief in a loud and sharp tone. “Well, what is it?” replied the sleeper, moving a little. “We are ready to put on the irons,” added Louis. “Oh, you are!” exclaimed Scoble, springing up to a sitting posture. “But, if you please, we will change the programme a little, and put them on your wrists; and I hope you will find them comfortable,” continued the young chief. “Never!” yelled the master of the Maud, when he discovered three persons in front of him. “Now, I think we will, Captain Scoble,” said the stalwart shipmaster, as he seized his intended victim by his two shoulders, and threw him over on his back upon the divan. “Now, slip the bracelets on his wrists, boys, and don’t let him hurt you.” Scoble struggled, twisted, kicked, struck out with his fists, and did all that a man in his situation could do. Louis got hold of one of his hands, and then sat down upon his lower limbs, while Felix grasped the other hand. The shipmaster changed his grip to the throat of the prostrate villain, who was soon worn out with his struggles. Without any further difficulty the handcuffs were sprung upon his wrists, and he was powerless to do any mischief. At this moment Mrs. Belgrave came out of the stateroom. CHAPTER XV AN OBDURATE PRISONER Captain Scoble had made noise enough during the struggle on the divan to be heard in the stateroom where Mrs. Belgrave was passing her time in fear and anxiety. It was not for herself that she worried and trembled; but she was in constant dread that Louis would be overpowered and seriously injured in the conflict she was now assured was in progress. “O Louis! Louis!” she screamed as she came out of her room in time to see the conclusion of the conflict, and hastened as rapidly as the uneasy motion of the vessel would permit to the scene of action. “Don’t be alarmed, mother,” returned the son, as he ran to her support. “It is all over now, and you have nothing to fear.”