"Show me the gun," said Doc, eagerly. "I was in the army, if yo' all want to know. I got medals, yes, suh!"
"All right," said Trask. "Go in and serve breakfast and I'll give you a gun. Then we'll see what you can do."
Doc made for the cabin, and Shanghai Tom followed him, to whisper in the galley about what had happened.
"We'll be in in a minute," said Trask, and with a knowing smile Marjorie left the deck. Trask and Locke strolled forward.
"What do you think of it?" asked the older man.
"It's a mad scheme on the face of it," said Trask. "That's why I wouldn't undertake to say how it will turn out. But there's one thing I'm sure of."
"What?"
"The steward is crooked. He's too anxious to find out how many guns we have and too anxious to go back ashore. He's a spy."
"Then we wouldn't be wise to attempt to get the schooner out with his help," suggested Locke.
"He doesn't want us to try it, that's plain," said Trask. "I've an idea to test him out. It'll take a little time, but we might as well set out to see who's who in this crowd."