The two conspirators spent an hour in discussing the details of their plan; but there was one point they could not decide, and that was, how to manage to induce Johnny and his friends to leave the vessel, in case they succeeded in reaching some port. However, they finally concluded that, in this, they would be governed by circumstances—Tom assuring Rich that when the time for action arrived, he could “make things work all right.” They then separated to explain their plan of operations to their friends.
CHAPTER XXV.
CONCLUSION.
NOTWITHSTANDING his prediction that Captain Harding never would succeed in taking the vessel safely into port, Rich thought it best to prepare for action; and he lost no time in revealing to his friends the plan that had just been determined upon. There were six boys on board, including Tom, who agreed to “stand by” him, and among them was the “fighting member,” who urged Rich to take the sloop that very night. If Johnny refused to give up possession, it would, he thought, be a good opportunity to reënact the scenes in the story of the mutiny at sea, which seemed to occupy all his thoughts. But Rich knew that Johnny’s friends were numerous, and spunky, and that if an attempt was made to take the vessel by force, the mutineers would, in all probability, get the worst of it. By following out the first mate’s idea, they could accomplish their object without danger to themselves, and so this plan was finally adopted. The malcontents were all delighted to receive their leader’s assurance that he intended to “get even” with the new captain; but they were very careful to do all their talking and planning when none of Johnny’s friends were in hearing, so that no one except those whom Rich and Tom had taken into their confidence knew what was going on.
On the second morning after Harding took command of the sloop, Rich found that his prediction would not be verified. Land was in plain view at sunrise; and, at noon, the Swallow, after coasting along the shore to find a suitable harbor, entered a little bay, and was made fast at a wharf, in front of a farm-house. Johnny’s friends all insisted that the new captain had brought them safely to their destination, while Rich and his followers affirmed that if that was Nantucket they would agree to “eat the sloop,” and perform several other impossible feats.
“What island is this?” asked Johnny, of a man who appeared at the door of the house, while the sloop was being made fast.
“Martha’s Vineyard,” was the reply.
“How far are we from Edgartown?”