nd leave me to navigate this one, sir? No, that won't do, sir. What
isn't safe for me, isn't safe for you."

"No, I felt that. My plan's a different one. We'll have a hawser from
our schooner to this one, after you've made all snug aloft, and tow her
while the weather keeps fair."

"Well, sir, I don't see why not," said Tom, thoughtfully.

"We can leave the blacks on board; and then we shall have plenty of
force to meet the Yankees if they try to master us again."

"That's right, sir; and as long as the weather holds good, we may do,
though I think we shall have our hands full. But look here, sir; why
not--"

"Why not what?"

"There's lots o' irons below, such as they used for the poor niggers.
Why shouldn't we couple a lot of the prisoners together, and make 'em
safe?"

"Put them in irons, Tom? No, I don't like to do that--only as a last
resource."

"Very well, sir," said Tom, rubbing his head where he had received a
heavy blow, "only if you wouldn't mind telling on me, sir, I should like
to know what you calls a last resource."

"I will, Tom, when I know," said Mark, smiling. "Hail our schooner, and
tell them to come aboard in the other boat."

Tom turned away and obeyed the order, passing the American skipper, who
was leaning on the bulwark looking sick, and as the sailor came up he
turned to him with an ugly leer.

"Guess I'm going to pay yew for that, young man," he said. "I don't let
a chap hit me twice for nothing."

"Like to do it now?" said Tom, sharply.

"No; I'm not quite ready, mister. Yew'll know when I am."

"Thankye," said Tom Fillot. "Then now look here; just you let me give
you a hint, too. I'm acting as mate to my young officer here, and he
takes a good deal o' notice o' what I say. If you don't keep a civil
tongue in your head, I'll tell him as you're real dangerous, and that
the best thing he can do is to have some o' them irons clapped on your
arms and legs, and then shove you below along with your men."

"What!" cried the skipper, fiercely; "put me in irons! Me, an Amurrican
citizen. I should like to see him do it!"

"You soon shall," said Tom, "if you don't mind. Now then, get down into
that boat."

"Who are yew ordering about, sir?"

"You," cried Tom. "Now then, once more, get down into that boat."

The skipper turned to walk away, but Tom's temper was getting hot, and
without a moment's hesitation he seized the man by the collar and
waistband, thrust him