"Coming this way?" asked the master of the schooner.
"Aye, sir."
Captain Langless arose at once.
"I will have, to ask you to step into the hold again," he said politely, but firmly. "I will talk over what you have offered later."
He motioned to the passageway leading to the hold. Sam was on the point of objecting, but Dick silenced him with a look.
"All right, we'll go," grumbled Tom. "But I'm going to take the dessert with me," and he took up a bowl of rice pudding and a spoon.
Dick followed with a pitcher of water and a glass, at which the captain had to grin. As soon as they were in the hold the owner of the schooner bolted the door and fixed it so that it might not again be opened from the inside.
"Two ships in sight!" cried Sam, when they were alone. "We ought to have made a dash for liberty."
"It wouldn't have helped us," answered his oldest brother. "Those vessels, must be some distance away, and before they came up we would be down here, handcuffed, and in disgrace with the captain. If we treat him right, we may win him over and finish the Baxters' game."
Sitting in the darkness they took their time
