Rushing down the companionway, Luke entered the cabin and knocked on the door of Captain Ponsberry's stateroom.
"Wake up, captain!" he called, loudly. "Wake up! There is going to be trouble putty quick, to my way o' thinkin'!"
"What has gone wrong now?" demanded the master of the Columbia, as he hurried into his clothes and armed himself. "Where is Grandon?"
"On deck; he sent me to tell you. They have set Semmel free and some of 'em are arming themselves."
"A mutiny!" roared Captain Ponsberry. "Striker, you'll stand by me, of course?"
"That I will, sir—to the end."
"Good. I know Vincent will do the same. Do you know anything about the others?"
"I think you can count on Jeff the cook."
"What of Wilbur?"
"He's so weak-kneed I don't know what he'll do," answered Striker.