ome plan
which you do not tell me of, so--well, all right. I will go up."

She put on a cloak and ascended the companion stairs, and Denman sat
down to wait. He heard nothing, not even a voice of congratulation, and
after a few moments Florrie came down.

"I met them all," she said, "and they were civil and polite. What more
do you want of me, Billie?"

"Your cloak, your hat, and your skirt. I will furnish the bandage."

"What?"

"Exactly. I will go up, dressed like you, and catch them unawares, one
by one."

"But, Billie, they will kill you, or--hurt you. Don't do it, Billie."

"Now, here, Florrie girl," he answered firmly. "I'll go into the
wardroom, and you toss in the materials for my disguise. Then you go to
bed. If I get into trouble they will return the clothes."

"But suppose they kill you! I will be at their mercy. Billie, I am alone
here without you."

"Florrie, they are sailors; that means that they are men. If I win, you
are all right, of course. Now let me have the things. I want to get
command of this boat."

"Take them, Billie; but return to me and tell me. Don't leave me in
suspense."

"I won't. I'll report, Florrie. Just wait and be patient."

He passed into the wardroom, and soon the skirt, hat, and cloak were
thrown to him. He had some trouble in donning the garments; for, while
the length of the skirt did not matter, the width certainly did, and he
must needs piece out the waistband with a length of string, ruthlessly
punching holes to receive it. The cloak was a tight squeeze for his
broader shoulders, but he managed it; and, after he had thoroughly
masked his face with bandages, he tried the hat. There were hatpins
sticking to it, which he knew the utility of; but, as she had furnished
him nothing of her thick crown of hair, he jabbed these through the
bandage, and surveyed himself in the skipper's large mirror.

"Most ladylike," he muttered, squinting through the bandages. Then he
went on deck.

His plan had progressed no further than this--to be able to reach the
deck unrecognized, so that he could watch, listen to the talk, and
decide what he might do later on.

Billings still sang cheeringly in the galley, and the voices forward
were more articulate; chiefly concerned, it seemed, with the
replenishing of the water and food supply, and the necessity of
Forsythe's pursuing his studies so that they could know where they were.
The talk ended by their driving their commander belo