of course; the Flyaway can outsail that craft, and
we may as well have our cruise out as be snubbed by any of 'em. Ease off
that jib sheet, I say. Come, Tom, show your spunk."

"I will, but in a little different way from what you want," said Tom,
seizing the helm, and attempting to restore the yacht to her former
course.

"No, you don't," growled Frank, dealing him a heavy blow, which Tom
promptly returned; and then commenced a struggle between them for the
possession of the tiller.

Frank was the largest and strongest boy on board, and for a moment the
victory leaned to his side. Paul, who had seconded Tom's movement by
hauling in the main sheet, now rushed to the conflict, assisted by
several of the larger boys. After a severe engagement, Frank was knocked
down, and held till his hands and feet were tied.

This turbulent spirit thus secured, Paul took the helm, and the yacht
was brought to her course again. By this time the schooner had lowered
her boat from the stern davits, and Captain Littleton and his companions
were pulling towards the Flyaway.

"What does this mean?" demanded the captain, sternly, as he leaped over
the rail. "Paul," he continued, as he discovered his young friend at the
helm, "I am astonished to see _you_ here."

The boys hung their heads with shame, and Paul preferred to let some
other person vindicate him from the implied charge.

"Will you explain this, Paul?" said Captain Littleton. "If it had been
my own son, I could not have been more surprised."

"Paul is innocent, sir," interposed Tom, stepping forward. "Frank
Thompson and myself are the guilty ones. He and I got up the scrape; we
fastened Paul and Dick in the cabin, and deceived the rest of the
fellows. We kept Paul a prisoner till we had nearly wrecked the Flyaway,
and then we called him up, and he saved the yacht and all our lives."

"That sounds like a true story, Tom, and I am glad to find you have the
manliness to acknowledge your guilt. Paul, your hand; I have been
grieving over you all day, and now I am rejoiced to find you are still
true to yourself and the good character you have hitherto borne."

Paul gave the captain his hand, and thanked him for the kind words he
had spoken.

"What was the quarrel I witnessed just before I came on board?" asked
Captain Littleton.

"Frank Thompson wanted to run away from you, and have the cruise out,"
replied Paul. "Tom and all the rest of the party opposed him, and
finally to