d on deck.

"Now would be our time to seize the fellow," he said to Tom. "The
doctor has a brace of pistols and a fowling-piece. I found another
brace in the first mate's berth. I will speak to Jerry, and he can
easily let Tim and Pat know what we are doing. Peter, I am certain,
would side with us by the way he looked when he saw the boatswain take
the captain's seat. The rest of the men would be very easily won over;
and if not, after we have clapped the boatswain in irons, we must make
them prisoners. We can easily tackle the watch on deck, and then master
those below as they come up."

"Your plan is a good one, and I dare say would succeed, but I hope we
shall not have to carry it out," said Tom. "We have had no proof that
the boatswain will not act reasonably, and I again repeat that I do not
consider we should be justified in taking the ship from him until he has
shown by his conduct that he is likely to endanger our lives, and the
rest of those on board."

The midshipmen had the after part of the deck to themselves, while the
ship was hove to. Only two of the crew could be seen; one of them was
the boatswain's mats, who, with the carpenter, were the only men
remaining on board capable of taking charge of a watch.

Tom and Desmond were now wishing that the boatswain would come up, in
order that they might learn in what direction they were to steer. They
were both indeed getting so sleepy that they could scarcely keep their
eyes open, and much longed to lie down, even for a couple of hours. At
last the boatswain made his appearance.

"May I ask, Mr Betts, what you intend doing?" said Tom, in as polite a
tone as he could command.

"What's that to you?" asked the boatswain, gruffly. "You are only
passengers, and will have to go where the ship goes."

"I had no intention of dictating to you," replied Tom; "but because we
are passengers, we naturally wish to learn when we are likely to get on
shore."

"That must depend upon circumstances," said the boatswain, evasively.
"I am in command of this ship, and intend to keep it, unless the captain
and mate should come on board."

"We are perfectly ready to obey you, and to assist you in carrying the
ship, either to Hong-kong, or Honolulu in the Sandwich Islands, or
Sydney, where you may obtain fresh hands to take her home, and all I ask
is that you will tell me for which of these ports you intend to steer."

"I have not made up my mind upon the matter,"