"What can he do?" asked one of the boys.
"I don't know. He hasn't told me what he intends to do, and probably he will not," replied our chief, facetiously.
"Can't you guess?" asked another boy; and there seemed to be a general desire to anticipate the terrible things the principal would attempt in order to reduce the rebellious pupils to subjection.
"I am no Yankee, and I can't guess. I can mention several things he might do."
"Tell us, if you please!" called out one of the more timid of the boys.
"Very likely he will attempt to starve us out by surrounding the island with boats, and preventing us from obtaining provisions. He must know that we have a very small stock of eatables on hand."
"We will trust to our commodore to break his lines, if he blockades our camp," laughed Tom Rush.
"He may come with a force of men in the night, and take away the boats."
"You said we should keep a watch at night," suggested Fred Mason.
"We hope the commodore will be able to protect his squadron," said Bob Hale.