anybody guarding them?"

"I guess not. All of 'em have got to drinking again. Say, captain, let
me out of this fix and I'll never go against you again, never,"
continued Wilbur, earnestly.

"We'll see about that later," was the grim reply.

"Captain Ponsberry, I have a scheme," put in Larry, and he drew the
master of the ship to one side. "Wilbur is about the same build as
myself. Let me take his coat and cap and go on deck and down to the
brig. If I can release Grandon and Vincent we'll be sure to knock out
the mutiny in no time."

"It's a dangerous game, Larry."

"Oh, please let me do it!" pleaded the young second mate. The hazard was
one which appealed to him strongly.

The matter was talked over for a few minutes and it was decided to let
Larry have his way. Wilbur was soon stripped of his coat and the young
second mate donned the garment. Then he took the mutineer's cap and
pulled it as far over his brow as possible and turned up the coat
collar.

"I'll leave the lantern here," he said, and a second later was mounting
the rope ladder slowly and cautiously.

With his head on a level with the deck Larry paused to reconnoiter the
situation. He knew exactly how dangerous his mission was and that he was
running the risk of being shot. But his life in our navy had made him
bold, and seeing nobody in sight, he leaped out on deck, and hurried
with all speed to the ladder leading to the brig. Soon he was in front
of the barred door.

"Grandon! Vincent!" he called, softly.

"Hullo, who's that?" came in the voice of the first mate.

"It is I, Larry. Is Vincent there?"

"Yes. Where did you come from?"

"The cabin." Larry unbarred the door. "Are you hurt?"

"Not much. How are you?"

"I am all right, and so are the captain and Luke Striker. They are in
the hold, ready to come on deck. We have made Wilbur a prisoner."

"Good enough," came from the boatswain. "The rascals! They ought all to
walk the plank!" he added, vehemently.

The two men had their hands tied behind them, but it was an easy matter
for Larry to liberate them. Then each provided himself with a belaying
pin, and all three of the party stole to the deck.

From the forecastle and the cook's galley came loud talking, showing
that the mutineers were making themselves at home. One man was trying to
do some cooking.

"What's keeping Wilbur so long?" he demanded of the others.

Nobody knew, and one of the crowd, the sailor named Groot, volunteer