o so," said the captain.
"Of course, if Semmel didn't touch it there can be nothing in it that
can hurt you." But all, even to Peterson, declined to even taste the
food. It was one thing to think Semmel innocent but quite another to run
the risk of being made sick or poisoned. In the end the stew was dumped
overboard and Jeff prepared an entirely new dinner for all hands.

"You must keep close watch on all of the men," said the captain to Larry
and Grandon, when quietness had been restored. "Semmel was the worst of
the lot, but I do not like the way Peterson and one or two others are
acting."

"I don't see what they can do," answered Larry.

"They might start a mutiny," came from the first mate.

"Would they dare go as far as that?"

"Sometimes sailors get strange notions, and the old Harry himself can't
stop them," said Captain Ponsberry. "A thing that in itself doesn't
amount to much will start them off, and they'll imagine that everything
is going wrong. When I was a lad, on board the _Mary Eliza_, Captain
Snapper, we had a mutiny just because the coffee wasn't right."

"Yes, and I can remember that they had a mutiny on the old brig
_Chesterfield_ because Captain Roe's wife brought a cross-eyed yellow
cat on board," added Grandon. "Not a man would hoist a sail until that
feline was put ashore. And when, two months later, the brig lost her
foremast in a gale, the sailors said it was on account of that same cat,
she having scratched the mast before she was taken away!"

"Well, I hope we don't have a mutiny," said Larry. "I'd like to suggest
something, Captain Ponsberry," he went on, to the master of the
_Columbia_.

"Fire ahead, Larry."

"You know we can trust Luke Striker. Why not have him report just what
the other hands are doing?"

"That's an idea, and I will act on it. Yes, I'd trust Striker as quick
as I'd trust you. If there is to be trouble we certainly want to know of
it as soon as possible," concluded the captain.

CHAPTER VI

THE FIGHT FOR THE SHIP

The day to follow was Sunday, and contrary to expectations, it passed
quietly. As there was hardly any wind, the old _Columbia_ made slow
progress, and the sailors had little or nothing to do. As was his usual
habit, Larry read his Bible, and Captain Ponsberry held a short church
service, which less than half the crew attended.

"It's plain to see that the men are sulky," said Tom Grandon, towards
evening. "We are certain to hear somethi