ne of ye."

They made him no answer, and he turned away in contempt. "Mr. Tomm," he
called, "want these Ethiopians in your watch?"

"No, sir," said the second mate; "I don't want 'em. They're no more use
'an a spare pump."

"I'll make 'em useful 'fore I'm done with 'em. Go forrard, you three.
Get the bile out o' yer gizzards 'fore mornin', 'f ye value yer good
looks." He delivered a vicious kick at each of the two standing men,
bawled out, "Relieve the wheel an' lookout--that'll do the watch," and
went aft, while the crew assisted the seasick men to the forecastle and
into three bedless bunks--bedless, because sailors must furnish their
own, and these men had been shanghaied.

The wind died away during the night, and they awoke in the morning with
their seasickness gone and appetites ravenous. Somber and ominous was
their bearing as they silently ate of the breakfast in the forecastle
and stepped out on deck with the rest in answer to the mate's roar:
"All hands spread dunnage." Having no dunnage but what they wore, they
drew off toward the windlass and conferred together while chests and
bags were dragged out on deck and overhauled by the officers for whisky
and sheath-knives. What they found of the former they pocketed, and of
the latter, tossed overboard.

"Where are the canal-drivers?" demanded the chief mate, as he raised
his head from the last chest. "Where are our seasick gentlemen, who
sleep all night--what--what----" he added in a stutter of surprise.

He was looking down three eight-inch barrels of three heavy Colt
revolvers, cocked, and held by three scowling, sunburnt men, each of
whom was tucking with disengaged left hand the corner of a shirt into a
waistband, around which was strapped a belt full of cartridges.

"Hands up!" snapped the tall man; "hands up, every one of ye! Up with
'em--over yer heads. That's right!" The pistols wandered around the
heads of the crowd, and every hand was elevated.

"What's this? What d' ye mean? Put them pistols down. Give 'em up. Lay
aft, there, some o' ye, and call the captain," blustered the mate, with
his hands held high.

Not a man stirred to obey. The scowling faces looked deadly in earnest.

"Right about, face!" commanded the tall man. "March, every man--back to
the other end o' the boat. Laramie, take the other side and round up
anybody ye see. Now, gentlemen, hurry."

Away went the protesting procession, and, joined by the carpenter,
sail-maker, donkey