But they were wrong, for the captain took them each by the shoulder, his
hands tightening with a heavy grip, which seemed to suggest that he
could hold them much harder if he liked; and in this way he marched them
before him to the cabin-hatch.

"Down vis you!" he said. "To-day you sall be vis me; to-morrow vis ze
crew."

"Aren't you going to let us go back to-morrow?" said Vince quickly.

"_Non_! Go down."

That first word was French, but any one would have understood what it
meant--the tone was sufficient.

The boys gave a sharp look round the little cabin, which was plain
enough, with its lockers for seats, and narrow table, which just
afforded room for the three who entered the place.

"Sit," said the captain shortly; and, directly after, "_Mangez_--eat.
You do not understand--_comprends_--ze _Francais_?"

"We do--a little," said Mike.

"Aha! zat is good," said the captain, with a peculiar laugh. "Zen ve
sall be _bons amis_--good friend, eh? Now eat. You like soup, fish,
eh?"

"We don't like to be taken off like this, sir," said Vince, who turned
away from the food, good as it was, with disgust, wondering the while
how he could have eaten so hearty a meal with the captain before. "We
want to know what you are going to do with us."

"Ah, truly you vant to know," said the captain, partaking of his soup
the while. "But ze ship boys do not ask question of ze _capitaine_."

"But we're not ship's boys," said Mike haughtily. "We are gentlemen's
sons, and we want to know by what right you drag us away from home."

"Aha! yes; you eat your soup, _mon_ brave boy, vile he is hot. Perhaps
ze storms come to-morrow, and you are vere you get no soups no more,
eh?"

"Look here, sir," said Mike, flushing in his excitement, "will you set
us ashore somewhere if we promise not to tell?"

"_Non_," said the captain shortly. "Ve talk about all zat before! Eat
your soup."

For answer Mike dropped his spoon upon the table, and the captain glared
at him viciously, but passed his anger off with an unpleasant laugh.

"Aha," he said, "you vill not eat. I know. Ze _souris_--ze mouse, you
know, valk himselfs into ze trap and spoil ze appetite. Ze toast cheese
is not taste good, eh?"

Vince had his own ideas, and he ate a few spoonfuls of the soup and took
some bread; but it seemed to choke him, and he soon put down his spoon,
and the man, who seemed to act as cook and steward, took away the tureen
and brought in