d-arm, wouldn't be a bad thing. I'll prosecute the
case."

"You forget that you are dealing with immortal spirits," observed
Cleopatra. "If these creatures were mortals, hanging them would be all
right, and comparatively easy, considering that we outnumber them ten to
one, and have many resources for getting them, more or less, in our power,
but they are not. They have gone through the refining process of
dissolution once, and there's an end to that. Our only resource is in the
line of deception, and if we cannot deceive them, then we have ceased to
be women."

"That is truly said," observed Elizabeth. "And inasmuch as we have already
provided ourselves with a suitable committee for the preparation of our
plans of a deceptive nature, I move, as the easiest possible solution of
the difficulty for the rest of us, that the Committee on Treachery be
requested to go at once into executive session, with orders not to come
out of it until they have suggested a plausible plan of campaign against
our abductors. We must be rid of them. Let the Committee on Treachery say
how."

"Second the motion," said Mrs. Noah. "You are a very clear-headed young
woman, Lizzie, and your grandmother is proud of you."

[Illustration: "'YOU ARE A VERY CLEAR-HEADED YOUNG WOMAN, LIZZIE,' SAID
MRS. NOAH"]

The Committee on Treachery were about to protest, but the chair refused to
entertain any debate upon the question, which was put and carried with a
storm of approval.

Five minutes later a note was handed through the port, addressed to
Cleopatra, which read as follows:

"DEAR MADAME,--Six bells has just struck, and the officers and
crew are hungry. Will you and your fair companions co-operate
with us in our enterprise by having a hearty dinner ready within
two hours? A speck has appeared on the horizon which betokens a
coming storm, else we would prepare our supper ourselves. As it
is, we feel that your safety depends on our remaining on deck.
If there is any beer on the ice, we prefer it to tea. Two cases
will suffice.

"Yours respectfully,

"HENRY MORGAN, Bart., First Mate."

"Hurrah!" cried Cleopatra, as she read this communication. "I have an
idea. Tell the Committee on Treachery to appear before the full meeting at
once."

The committee was summoned, and Cleopatra announced her plan of operation,
and it was unanimously adopted; but what it was we shall have to wait for
another chapter to l