"That's so; it was stupid of them."
"Rum always makes men stupid," I replied, ascending the ladder. "Captain York!" I called.
"Ay, ay, Phil."
"How is it on deck?"
"We have overhauled the hands. Grego, Sylvio, and Pedro are not on deck."
"Then they are below. The prisoners are all loose—seven of them—between decks."
"All loose!" exclaimed Captain York.
"Every one of them."
"And hardly half a dozen of the crew are able to stand up, they are so drunk," replied the captain in disgust.
"Keep an eye on the main hatch and the fore scuttle, and we are safe," I added as I returned to the cabin.