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would do when a boy aboard ship was impudent."
"Now see here," and it could be plainly perceived that Bob was struggling to keep his temper within bounds,
"them lads are here by accident, an' two of 'em don't know what work is, yet they turn to like little men. I
consider that they've got the same rights on this craft as I have, an' the man who tries to make 'em obey foolish
orders is bound to have considerable trouble with me!"
"There won't be any row if they stay in their place an' do a full share of the work," the red-nosed gentleman
said very decidedly.
"It ain't for you to say what their place or work is!" and now Bob's temper was gaining the ascendancy.
"That's a matter of opinion," the man said in an offensive tone. "Me an' my mates reckon we've got jes' as
much to say on this 'ere brig as you have. In the first place she was abandoned by her proper crew; the cubs
were carried off in her, an' you jes' the same as drifted aboard. All you've done toward savin' her has been to
run on this shoal. The tug's rightful engineer is in charge, so we've got nothin' to say about her; but we're
calculatin' on stickin' to what's as much ours as yours!"
If Bob had been alone it is most probable he would have struck the speaker, and thus precipitated a fight,
which very likely was just what the strangers desired; but Joe held him back as he said, in a low tone:
"Keep your temper, old man; this is no time for a row. Wait awhile."
"I'll soon show how much right I've got here!" he cried angrily, struggling to release himself from Joe's
detaining grasp, and paying no attention to the wise advice.
"You couldn't do better than begin now," the red-nosed man said sneeringly as he and his companions put
themselves in an attitude of defence. "Talk is cheap when a man hasn't got the nerve to back it up!"
"Have some sense about you," Joe whispered angrily. "Can't you see that a row is just what they want?"
Fortunately for all save the strangers, Bob realized the truth of this remark, and instead of rushing blindly
forward to what would have been certain defeat, he stepped back a few paces to the foremast where he could
reach a belaying-pin in case weapons became necessary, and Joe continued the conversation by saying:
"This talk about your rights is all bosh. I was in charge of the tug, and picked up this vessel, towing her in
here. Any court would recognize my claim as a just one. You wouldn't have a leg to stand on if it came to
legal rights, for both crafts had a crew on board, and nobody asked for assistance. We propose to hold our
ground, and before proceeding to extremities allow you ten minutes in which to leave this brig. If you go
peaceably we will give you one of the Sea Bird's boats and a reasonable supply of provisions; but in case
force is necessary, it may be a matter of swimming ashore!"
"A reg'lar sea-lawyer, eh?" the red-nosed man said with a contemptuous laugh, in which his companions
joined. "We've told you our ideas on the subject, an' if so be that they don't jes' agree with yours, then I s'pose
we'll have to be put ashore--providin' it can be done without too much harm to them as tackles the job!"
This speech afforded the strangers no slight amount of amusement, and as they laughed boisterously Bob
seized a belaying-pin with the evident intention of deciding the question at once.
CHAPTER XIII. 53
"Be careful," Joe whispered. "Can't you see that they've got the capstan-bars ready for use? We should be
knocked over like nine-pins before it would be possible to strike a blow. There may be some fire-arms aft, and
if we get hold of them first all the advantage will be on our side."
Bob had turned to follow the very sensible advice when the red-nosed man shouted, this time in a threatening
tone:
"Seein's how you've laid down the law for us, I reckon we'd better give you a dose. I don't say you've got to go
ashore whether or no, for it's our way to let everybody have a chance. If you're willin' to say that we're on the
same footin' as you, share an' share alike, there'll be no trouble. In case you don't look at it in that light, then
somebody must take to the island; but it won't be any of us!"
"Don't answer him," Joe said, as he literally pushed Bob aft. "They reckon on settlin' matters by a fight now,
when they've got the best of it, an' we must be careful not to do anything foolish."
The old sailor walked swiftly away, as if fearing to trust himself too long within sound of that mocking voice,
and Joe kept close behind him until they were in the cabin, where the boys had remained until the result of the
revolt should be determined.
"Sit in the companion-way where you can keep your eye on those men, and sing out if they make any move
toward coming aft," Joe said to Jim; and the latter obeyed at once by taking up his position where everything
forward of the mainmast came within his range of vision.
Bob's rage was so great that his only desire just now was to enforce authority, and he lost no time before
beginning the search for weapons. From one state-room to another he went, looking into sea-chests,
overhauling boxes, and upsetting drawers; but nothing more deadly than a sail-needle met his eager gaze. As a
matter of coarse, there must have been fire-arms on board the brig when she left port; but those who
abandoned her had taken everything of the kind with them.
"I can't find so much as a sheath-knife," he said, coming into the saloon where Joe stood revolving this very
serious turn of affairs in his mind. "We shall have to trust our fists and anything in the way of a club that can
be picked up, for I'm not goin' to let another hour go by without showin' them villains that we intend to hold
possession of this craft."
"But we mustn't act until we've formed some plan," Joe replied. "Tell me just what you propose doing, and I'll
stand by till the last."
"I'm going to drive them over the side!" Bob cried, passionately.
"Just now they are stronger than our crowd, and it may be a question as to who goes first."
Joe spoke in a matter-of-fact tone; but it could be seen that he was laboring under no less excitement than the
sailor; and the latter, beginning to realize the weakness of their position, asked hoarsely:
"What do you think we ought to do?"
"Wait awhile till we see how they're going to act;" and then the engineer ascended the companion-ladder to
ascertain the condition of affairs forward.
CHAPTER XIV. 54
CHAPTER XIV.
A BARGAIN.
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