"You carried them to sea without making a contract with them."
"That'll do. You can go on deck," said the captain.
"But before I go, sir, I demand to see the American consul of the first port at which we touch," said Frank.
"Very well, you can see him, but you can't go ashore. If one goes all must go, and the first thing I know the ship will be deserted. I'll bring the consul aboard to see you."
"That will be perfectly satisfactory, sir. Victory!" whispered Frank to himself as he went up the ladder. "The people triumphant! The ring broken all to smash! A captain cowed in his own cabin by a foremast hand! Hurrah for sailors' rights! We're going to see the consul, Lucas!"
"Aha!" exclaimed the old sailor, with an admiring glance at Frank. "I knew you had the brains, sir. But I'm sorry we're going to get off so easy. Me and the rest wanted to see you on that quarter-deck."
"And a pretty figure I'd make up there, wouldn't I?" returned Frank. "I'm glad you didn't have a chance to carry out your plans."
"What do you think of him, any how?" asked the first mate, after Frank had left the cabin.
"I think I've got an elephant on my hands," answered the captain. "I don't want to keep him, and I don't know how to get rid of him. I wish Billings had been in Guinea before he brought him aboard here."
"You don't intend to let him see the consul?"