The immediate seizure of the yacht having been resolved upon, the next question to be settled was: What should be done with the boys? After a few minutes’ conversation on this point, Tomlinson and two of his companions went forward to assist Chase and Wilson, while the fourth walked to the stern, and leaning his folded arms upon the rail, gazed listlessly into the water. Tomlinson and his two friends lent effective aid, and the deck of the Banner soon began to present its usual scene of neatness and order. The former kept up a running fire of jokes and stories, in the midst of which he suddenly paused, and stood fiercely regarding his companion in the standing room.
“Bob,” said he, in a tone of command, “I never knew before that you were a soger. Look around and find something to do.”
“Where shall I go?” asked Bob, gruffly.
“Anywhere, so long as you don’t stand there skulking. Go into the cabin, and put it in order against the captain comes back.”
Bob slowly straightened up and sauntered down the companion-ladder, but almost immediately reappeared. “The cabin’s all right,” he growled. “Everything’s in order.”
“Then go into the galley, or into the hold, and see if things are all right there,” returned Tomlinson, angrily. “I know you can find something to do somewhere about the yacht.”
Bob disappeared in the cabin again, and presently Chase heard him tumbling things about in the hold. In a few minutes he once more thrust his head out of the companion-way.
“Well, what’s the row now?” asked Tomlinson. “Find anything to do down there?”
“Plenty of it,” was the reply. “Lieutenant, will you step down here a moment?”