Instantly Joe, who was
behind him, threw his arm round the officer's neck, thrust a gag
into his mouth, and with the bosun's aid deftly tied his arms and
legs together. Then all three of us ran up the companion way. In
obedience to the lieutenant's command two of the men had gone
forward and were descending through the open hatchway into the
hold. While the deserters held the rest of the men in talk, the
bosun strolled carelessly after the two, and as soon as they had
disappeared, quietly clapped on the hatch and battened it down.
Meanwhile Joe and I joined the group at the bulwarks, without
awakening suspicion among the crew. At a signal from me the men
tripped them up, and in another two minutes they were lying gagged
and bound on the deck.
It was scarcely ten minutes since we came on board, and we had done
everything without the least noise to alarm the town. Then, leaving
the deserters to guard the ship, I returned in all haste with the
others to the maire.
"What shall we do with our prisoners, Joe?" I asked, as we hurried
along.
"Leave 'em locked up, sir, and lock the maire up with them in case
of accidents."
"But I think we will bring the captain and the sergeant," I said.
"You see, they have got our clothes."
"But these are better, sir," he replied, "and you make a rare fine
captain, smite my timbers if you don't."
"Still, we will bring them; a taste of prison may do the captain,
at any rate, a world of good.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227