A shout of laughter greeted the proposition.
The pilot of the "Marie," a heavily bearded man named Cummings, broke out in a loud guffaw.
All eyes were turned upon him.
"I reckon I kin tie him up if you says the word," he volunteered.
"All right; tie him up," shouted the performers, scenting fun.
Teddy eyed the pilot out of the corners of his eyes and placidly munched his sandwich. The pilot, in the meantime, had stepped to the rear end of the cabin, where, from a box of life-preservers he took a piece of Manila rope.
"I believe he is going to do it," said a clown, nudging his companion.
"You mean he is going to try it," answered the other. "Watch for some fun. He thinks Teddy is an easy mark."
"He will be in this case. That fellow, Cummings, is hard as a rail fence. He could handle two of Teddy."
In the meantime Tucker had strolled to the table, from which he took a large sandwich, buttered it well, then returned to his seat, not appearing to observe the pilot's movements at all.