n, and
Larry turned his attention again to Captain Ponsberry. At last the
captain seemed fully to comprehend what had occurred. He once more moved
toward the companionway, pistol in hand.

"You can't get out that way, sir," said Larry. "They have placed the
fore hatch over the stairs."

"And they are armed, too," put in Luke. "Be careful, sir, or they'll
shoot you down."

"And this on my own ship!" came bitterly from the master of the
_Columbia_. "That is what I get for treating the dogs better than they
deserve. Where are Grandon and Vincent?"

"Either shot down or taken prisoners. They called for help, and that was
the last we heard of them."

"And are all the others in this dastardly plot?"

"I reckon they are," answered Luke. "Them foreigners, Semmel an'
Peterson, must have stirred 'em up powerfully."

Still weak from the blow received, Captain Ponsberry sank down once more
on the cabin couch. There was a lump as big as a walnut on the top of
his head, and he had Jeff bathe it with water and then with witch-hazel,
which made it a trifle more comfortable.

A short while later came a sudden wild song from the deck of the
schooner, followed by a clinking of glasses.

"They are treating themselves to grog," said Luke. "I suppose, now they
have the run of things, they'll drink all they want of the stuff."

"More than likely," returned the captain. "Well, it is their turn just
now--perhaps before long it will be my turn!" And he smiled
significantly.

CHAPTER VII

THE MUTINEERS IN POSSESSION

As my old readers know, both Captain Ponsberry and Luke Striker were
Yankees to the backbone, and it galled them exceedingly to see the
schooner in the hands of a number of mutineers, and especially
foreigners.

"We've got to git the ship back, no two ways on it," growled the old
tar. "Captain, I'm willin' to fight to the end, if ye give the word."

"And I'll fight, too," said Larry, promptly.

"Don't you go fo' to fight dem rascallions!" whined Jeff. "Yo' will all
be killed suah!"

"I would like to know what has become of Grandon and Vincent," came from
Captain Ponsberry. "As we stand now, we are but four to seven or eight.
If we could get Grandon and Vincent to aid us we would be six against
them."

"Perhaps all the hands are not in the mutiny," suggested Larry. "Why not
try to sound them?"

"I was thinking of doing that."

A little later Captain Ponsberry called up the companionway. At first
no