o sea if we
should strike a typhoon or anything we might want you to help navigate
the ship."

"That's so," reflected the skipper, gravely. "And on the whole, I think
I'd better stay aboard anyway. But now I'll tell you what I'll do. If
you mutineers will turn in, and promise not to leave your bunks again
before sunrise, I'll promise not to make any move toward going back
before that time, and not even then till we've talked the whole matter
over again by daylight."

This proposition seemed to the Rangers so satisfactory, and they were
becoming so shivery in the chill night air, as well as sleepy, that it
was promptly accepted; and, without further parley, the young mutineers
left the deck and hastened below. Little Cal Moody, cuddling close to
the big skipper, was already nodding, so the latter lifted him in his
strong arms, and carrying him into the hold again, tucked him snugly
into his bunk. Then, after bidding the mutineers a polite good-night,
and promising to carefully consider their proposition, the skipper
returned to the deck. Here for an hour or more he nearly choked with
suppressed laughter, which refused to be stilled, and ever broke out
afresh as he contemplated the novel aspects of the proposed mutiny.

"Bless their honest hearts," he finally said, half aloud, "I couldn't no
more disappoint them boys by carrying of 'em back than a fish could swim
on a railroad track. So I suppose I might as well make a virtue of
necessity, and surrender at once."

Thus resolved, Captain Crotty turned in for a few hours' sleep; but he
was on deck again by daylight, when, with young Jabe's assistance, he
quietly got up the anchor, set the jib, and was merrily dropping down
stream long before a single Ranger even thought of opening his eyes.

When the sleepers were at length awakened by young Jabe's lusty shout of
"Breakfast!" they tumbled out of their bunks in a hurry, but sought in
vain for their clothing. It was not in cabin, hold, or galley; but the
mystery of its disappearance was speedily explained by Captain Crotty,
who, thrusting his head down the hatch, informed them that the cook,
learning of their mutiny, had inaugurated one of his own. "He says,"
continued the skipper, "that he's going to keep up his mutiny, which is
for the purpose of hiding your clothes, just as long as you keep up
yourn, but that as soon as you'll give in he'll give in. Now I'm going
to set down to breakfast, and only wish you were proper