"Very good, sir!" replied Tom. "All hands lay aft to lower the cutter."
In obedience to this order, the crew moved aft, where a very small boat, that Tom had dignified with the name of cutter, hung at the stern davits. She was scarcely large enough to accommodate three men, and the governor, after he had examined her by the aid of the lantern, which he carried under his coat, through fear of attracting the attention of the watch on some of the neighboring vessels, shook his head and stepped back.
"Man the falls," commanded Tom.
"Now, jest look a here, cap'n," said Sam, "if you want a crew to man that ar egg-shell, you'd best call for volunteers. You don't ketch Governor Barton in no such craft in a night like this. Why, she'd be swamped the minute she touched the water."
"O, now, how am I to get the ship out to sea, I'd like to know?" drawled Tom.
"That's your look out, an' not mine," replied Sam, as he turned on his heel and walked forward, followed by the rest of the crew. "I aint master of this vessel."
"It don't look as if I was master of her, either," answered Tom, almost ready to cry with vexation. "What's the use of having any captain, if no one will obey his commands?"
"Why don't you give sensible orders, then, like a man had oughter do? We aint a goin' to get into that ar little boat, an' that's jest all about it."
Tom did not know what to do. It looked as though the expedition was to end then and there. What was the use of being captain, if his crew were to be the judges as to whether or not an order ought to be obeyed? How he wished that he possessed the physical power of the second mate of the Savannah! Wouldn't he enforce obedience? Perhaps all that was needed was a show of authority and resolution.
"Now look here, men," exclaimed the captain, in a voice which he intended should strike terror to the hearts of every one of the band, "I am not going to stand any such nonsense. I am the lawful master of this vessel, and I'll make you sup sorrow with a big spoon if you don't obey orders. Lay aft, now, to lower away the cutter. Mr. Mate, use a rope's end on the first man who dares hesitate."