an't
see the use of being satisfied with a thousand dollars when we can just
as well have more."

"More!" echoed the governor; "more'n a thousand dollars?"

"Don't talk so loud. We've got just as much right to the money in the
valise as those robbers have; don't you think so?"

"I reckon I do. It don't belong to nary one of us."

"Well, let's take it."

"What! All of it--the whole five thousand dollars?"

"Yes, every cent of it."

The governor staggered back against the rail and looked at Tom without
speaking. He had, by this time, become well acquainted with the captain,
and when the latter declared that he had another idea, Sam was prepared
to listen to something desperate, such as arming the band with the empty
shot-guns, and demanding the passage money at their muzzles; but he had
not dreamed that Tom would think seriously of attempting to deprive the
burglars of their ill-gotten gains.

"If you want to punish them," continued the skipper, "I don't know any
better way."

"Nor me, neither," returned Sam. "But how can we do it? that's the
question. We're only boys, an' they're men an' carry revolvers. I wish
we had a few loads fur our guns."

"Just leave this thing to me, governor," replied Tom. "I can think it
over in half an hour, and then I'll let you know what I have decided to
do. You had better tell the other fellows what has been going on, and
ask them what they think of it."

As Tom said this he once more buried his hands in his pockets and began
pacing the deck, and Sam ran off to repeat to the rest of the band the
conversation he had overheard between the burglars, and to tell them
what he and the captain had determined upon. The Crusoe men listened
attentively, and it is hard to tell whether they were the more indignant
at their passengers, or amazed at the audacity of their skipper. They
spoke of the revolvers, and declared that, rather than face them, they
would give up the thousand dollars.

"O, we aint goin' to fight the bugglars," said Sam, quickly. "Tommy an'
me aint so foolish as to believe that six boys are a match fur two men
with loaded pistols in their pockets. We're goin' to fool 'em, somehow.
We'll either get the revolvers away from 'em, or study up a plan to get
hold of the valise, without puttin' ourselves in the way of the shootin'
irons. The matter is in the cap'n's hands, an' he is thinkin' it over
now. We'll larn them fellers a thing or two before we are done with
'em."