"It's a bargain," said the governor. "Now, listen, men," he added, turning to the band. "Muley's name is changed to cap'n. He is to be master of the vessel when we get her, an' he is the second officer in the band till we reach our island."
The boys raised no objections to this arrangement; in fact, they were delighted with it; for they had been convinced, by what their prisoner had said, that they could not proceed very far on the journey toward their island without some competent person to take command of the vessel; and as they knew that Tom had been on a six months' voyage, and that he had been second in command of the sloop, during the cruise of the Night-hawks, they thought he was just the very man they wanted.
"Now, then," said the chief, after all the articles that comprised their outfit, except the guns, had been packed away in the dry goods boxes, "that's all we can do to-night. We'll keep the guns out, to scare them 'cademy fellers. When we board the yacht we'll have a gun, cocked an' capped, in one hand, an' a spear in the other, an' we'll make 'em believe that if they raise any fuss, or show fight, we'll shoot 'em down. But the spears are what we'll have to depend on. The meetin's out, now."
The governor then carefully examined the ropes with which the prisoner was confined; after which he ordered the band into the boat, and Bob was once more left to his meditations.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE ATTACK ON THE YACHT.
Tom Newcombe's feelings had undergone a very great change during the last ten minutes. He was an officer now, and he no longer thought of turning traitor to the band, or of releasing the fisher-boy; but he was willing to use his best endeavors to render the expedition successful. It was not his intention to long answer to the name of captain; he preferred to be called governor; and he would use the office Sam had given him as a stepping-stone to something higher.