“I think we shall have a fair sailing breeze by midnight.”
“Then it will be best to make an attempt to land them at Nassau. Arm yourself, and we will both remain on duty. At the first sign of insubordination use your weapons promptly.”
It could be seen that Mr. Jenkins was not pleased with this decision, but he was too good a sailor to find fault with the commands of his superior officer.
He entered his cabin, reappeared a moment later with bulging pockets, and went toward the companion-ladder, stopping there only long enough to say:
“You will not be needed on deck, captain. I’ll answer for that crowd until daylight.”
“It can do no harm to take excessive precautions, more especially when they involve nothing more serious than the loss of sleep. If you see the slightest sign of trouble, call me.”
The mate went out into the gloom, and Captain Mansfield said to the boys:
“There is no particular reason why you should be frightened, but, at the same time, it is well to be prepared for any emergency. Keep your revolvers where they can be used at a moment’s notice, but do not make any move toward using them without an express command from me to that effect.”
“Do you think the men will attempt to seize the schooner?” Gil asked, in a tremulous voice.
“Not a bit of it; but yet almost anything is possible, and that is why I want you to be prepared. If we get a good sailing breeze at midnight, we shall be in Nassau before those scoundrels can form a plan.”
Then the captain went on deck to have a look around, and the boys discussed the question of “turning in.”
“I don’t believe it would be possible for me to close my eyes while knowing those men are ready for mischief, and there can be no mistake as to what we heard,” Nelse said, in a whisper. “Why can’t we sit here in the cabin all night?”
“Father wouldn’t like it, and, besides, if that crowd should see us, they would know we had discovered their secret.”
“Yes; but there is no necessity of undressing, and, in case anything does happen, we shall be ready to do our share.”
Nelse would have preferred to remain on deck, but he knew Captain Mansfield would not agree to such a plan, therefore he followed his cousin to the tiny room which adjoined the one occupied by Gil’s father.
