"But there are three men in the forecastle, and two aloft, who will give you some trouble."
"I think we can dispose of them without any difficulty, as soon as we are ready to do so. According to the agreement made by the crew among themselves, you are to command the bark, Mr. York."
"I'm very much obliged to the men, but I don't quite like the job. However, we will talk about that by and by, when we have disposed of the rest of the slave traders," answered the second mate. "You and Baxter have managed this affair so far, and have done it very well, too. I think you had better carry out your own plans."
"Very well, sir. If you will hail Martino, on the cross-trees, and call him down, we will take care of him."
"On the cross-trees!" shouted the second mate.
"On deck, sir!"
"Martino, come down."
Baxter and I stationed ourselves near the weather main-rigging; and, as soon as the Spaniard touched the deck, the new order of things was made manifest to him by a severe hug on the part of my companion. Very unexpectedly to us, he did not offer any violent resistance, but struggled in terror rather than in wrath. He uttered some expressions in his own language, and then begged for mercy in ours. We tied his hands behind him, and fastened him to the rail. Gorro was evidently alarmed by the noise, and came down, without any orders, to see what was the matter. He halted on the shrouds, and tried to ascertain the nature of the disturbance.
"On deck, Gorro," said the second mate.
But the man was as timid as his companion had been, and was not disposed to come down, though, in the gloom of the night, he could not have seen precisely what had happened to Martino.