The hatch still lay beside the opening, with the hooks that had been used to fasten it down. It was heavy and Dick wondered if he could move and fasten it quick enough.
"I wish Sam or Tom was here to help me," he thought.
As he started to raise the hatch a sudden puff of wind made the mast creak loudly. This alarmed the men below and Sack Todd started up the ladder.
"We ought to have somebody on guard," he said, so loudly that Dick heard him. "I don't trust that Baxter very much."
"All right," answered Gasper Pold. "You go to the cabin, and—"
He broke off short as a cry came from Sack Todd. The ex-counterfeiter had caught sight of Dick as the latter was raising the hatch to drop it in place.
"Hi!" yelled Sack Todd, and then let out a scream as the hatch hit him on the head.
"Down you go!" answered Dick and leaped on top of the hatch to force it into place. One of Sack Todd's fingers was caught and pinched and he let out another yell. But he kept his footing on the iron ladder and thus held the hatch up several inches.
"What's up?" came from Sid Jeffers.
"They are trying to shut the hatch! Help me!"