off than we are now."

"That's a true word, sir."

"Well, you know what happened trying the cabin window?"

"Yes, sir, I just do," said Tom, dolefully. "I thought Fillot AB's kit
was for sale aboard the _Naughtylass_."

"Then the door--the hatch; what about that?"

"Ah," said Tom, thoughtfully, "what about that?"

"Why, it's wedged and barricaded up, and exit that way is impossible."

"Hah! Exit that way's impossible," said Tom, after a deep breath.
"Exit that way's impossible."

"We could not batter it open, but if we did, the whole gang would be
waiting for us, ready to beat us back as we crept through, one at a
time. Our only chance is to take them by surprise."

"Only charnsh is to take 'em by surprise," said Tom,
thoughtfully--"surprise--surprise. Look ye here, sir," he suddenly
cried, eagerly, "why not take 'em then by surprise?"

"How?"

"Powder, sir, out o' that there locker."

"What! and blow them up?"

"O' course, sir," whispered Tom, "sky high."

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

DESPERATE MEASURES.

"Powder? An explosion?"

"Yes, sir; blow the whole thing out just when they didn't expect it."

"The powder?" cried Mark, excitedly. "Yes, of course. Why, Tom, I
_never_ thought of that. We will in the morning, when they are not so
strictly on the watch."

He looked excitedly at Tom Fillot for a few moments, and then his
countenance changed.

"No," he said; "it is impossible."

"Not it, sir. Lay the powder snug again the door, make a train, fire
it, get out of the way. Then _bang_ it goes; smash tumbles the door and
hatch and all the rest of it, and then out we rushes, knocks 'em over
one at a time, and the schooner's ours."

"Man, man, can't you see that if we did that we should blow ourselves up
as well?"

"No, we wouldn't sir, because we'd lie down."

"Well, what difference would that make?"

"All on it, sir. Powder flies up, and it wouldn't hurt us."

"Think not?"

"Sure on it, sir."

"Tom, I'm not sure; but dare we risk--"

"O' course, sir."

Mark sat thinking for a few moments.

"We might try it with a little."

"It must be a big dose or none at all, sir."

"Yes, and we must risk it," said Mark. "Now, then, it must be done
quietly, for depend upon it that scoundrel is watching us."

"Then I tell you what," said Tom, "as now it's dark he can see us, and
we can't see him, I say, sir, let's all have a nap, and directly after
the sun's up get ready."

"That's