"Ay," answered the steward, "you bet your life they are, sir. Turnbull
took 'em in with 'im just because 'e couldn't 'elp 'isself. 'E 'ad to
'ave 'elp to take the barque, and naterally 'e chose the chaps as 'e
thought would be most useful to 'im, 'specially as 'e didn't want to
'ave more 'n 'e could 'elp to go shares with 'im. Now these 'ere four--
Burton and the rest of 'em--are big, strong fellers, all of 'em. Either
of 'em could tackle any two of the rest of us in a stand-up fight and
make mincemeat of us; so I reckon that's the reason why Turnbull chose
'em. With they four and the cook on 'is side, and the mate safe in
irons and locked up in 'is cabin, 'e could laugh at the rest of us, and
do just ezactly as 'e liked."

"I see," assented Leslie. "But what sort of a man is your mate, then?
Could he not devise some scheme whereby, with the assistance of the rest
of you, he could get the better of these fellows?"

"Mr Marshall?" responded the steward. "Oh, 'e's all right; 'e's smart
enough, 'e is; not much of a chap to look at--bein' a small man and not
over strong--but 'is 'ead's screwed on the right way. But 'e can't do
nothin', because, ye see, sir, they keeps 'im in irons and locked up in
'is own cabin, 'cept when 'e was let out twice a day to take the sights
and work up the ship's reckonin', and then either Turnbull or one of 'is
gang was always alongside of 'im, and nobody else was hever allowed to
go anigh 'im; whilst at other times--when I was givin' 'im 'is meals, I
mean--either Pete Burton or one of the other chaps what was in with
Turnbull was always about to see as 'e and I didn't 'ave no talk
together. So, ye see, the poor man 'adn't no chance to do anything
'owever much 'e might 'ave been minded."

"Poor beggar!" ejaculated Leslie; "he must have had an awfully rough
time of it. And, evidently, Turnbull and his pals do not mean to take
any chances--which makes the recapture of the barque without a fight
somewhat difficult. However, I believe it can be done; and, anyhow, I
intend to try. Now, as I suppose you know these fellows pretty well, I
want you to tell me what you think will happen when they find that
Turnbull does not return to the ship."

The steward carefully considered the matter for some moments. At length
he said--

"Well, sir, if Turnbull don't come off by to-morrow night, it's very
likely as they'll begin to suspect that you knows somethin' about it.
Then, what'll they d