“I propose to push on up the river as usual.”
“And who are you going to get to run your engine?”
“Well, you are expecting a good deal more than you’ll get,” cried the man, rising from the table in his excitement. “I’ve been bullied by a parcel of boys just as long as I intend to be; so now I want you to understand that I’ll not allow the engine of this boat to make another turn except to run her into winter-quarters, and that’s got to be done in a hurry, too.”
“That’s exactly what I mean to do with her,” replied Phil, quietly.
“At Anvik, less than one hundred miles from here.”
“Hundred nothing!” screamed the man. “You’ll put her in winter-quarters within ten miles of this very spot or not at all; for you can’t run the engine, and you haven’t got a man aboard except me who can, and you know it.”
The furious man had stepped towards Phil, and was shaking a trembling fist in the lad’s face as he shouted these last words. Serge stood close behind him.
Just then the young mate nodded his head; both lads sprang upon the man at once, and in spite of his fierce struggles bore him to the deck. In another moment he was securely and helplessly bound.
“How do we generally dispose of mutineers aboard this ship?” asked Phil, as he regained his feet.
“Set ’em ashore, sir, and leave ’em to shift for themselves,” answered Serge, grimly.
“Very well; and as we haven’t any time to lose, you may get the dingey overboard at once. Call Isaac to help you, and tell him the reason for this extra work.”
“You don’t dare do it,” muttered the prostrate man, as Serge started to obey this order.
“Don’t I?” queried Phil. “If you think so you must be ignorant of what constitutes a mutiny, as well as of the powers vested in the captain of a ship.”
“But you aren’t the captain of this ship.”
“Perhaps I’m not. At the same time I am acting as captain by authority of the owner, and I am performing all of a captain’s duties; _all_ of them, you understand.”
By this time the small boat was alongside, and leaving the bewildered millwright in her, Serge regained the deck, where he awaited further instructions.
“Select such of your belongings as you wish to take with you, and they shall be put into the boat,” said Phil.
Serge obeyed, and in another minute the mutinous engineer found himself in the small boat, which was actually being shoved off.