kylights or the windows. They
must be all barred. We are in a state of siege."

"You hear your orders," said the Prince in his imperious voice. "The
doctor speaks sense. See that it is done."

Barraclough and Lane and the Prince himself were left on guard, and the
rest of us sallied down to hunt for tools and timber to carry out this
primitive fortification. In this we had the assistance of the steward,
Jackson, and the cook, who had been discovered in one of his pantries.
The work took us a full hour or more, but at last it was decently
accomplished. The windows of the saloon and music-room that gave on the
deck were shuttered, as also the windows of the cabins. Nothing but the
skylights remained unprotected, and these we could trust ourselves to
guard. I reckoned that we were in a position to stand a siege
indefinitely, unless something untoward occurred. The fortifications
completed, we stationed our guards, two in the corridor, two in the
saloon, and sat down at last, wearied out with the fatigue of that
abominable night.

CHAPTER IX

THE FLAG OF TRUCE

We were not interrupted during all this time, and from the sound of the
screw we could tell that the yacht was still ploughing her way, but
clearly it was not now for Buenos Ayres. At six we took some food
prepared by the cook, and considered the position with more equanimity.
Counting the cook, who had not been reckoned in our previous numbering,
we were now reduced to a party of ten men, if Pye could be accounted a
man after his cowardly behaviour. There were six sailors in the hold at
present useless, and the mutineers, even after their losses, were not
far short of thirty. Of Legrand we knew nothing, but could only hope
for the best. So long as we could hold the saloon we had plenty of food
and water, and our stock of ammunition was ample. The outlook did not
appear so bad. Only on the other side we had to remember that Holgate
had the ship and could go whither he wished. Even if coal failed him he
had the auxiliary power of the sails. Our main hope was to hold out
until his provisions should be exhausted and he should be obliged to
put into some port. Then would come the hour of reckoning, for we were
probably better supplied with provisions than was the forecastle.

The ladies breakfasted in their cabins, but the Prince was present at
our common table, showing a right democratic attitude.

"We are all in a common peril, gentlemen," he said with