CHAPTER XXIV.
IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
"Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?" I asked.
"No, I was not," he protested, warmly. "I had just been round and looked at the pirates. They were all safe and right, and I sat down on the box near the door which leads between decks. The first thing I knew, the door opened, and Grego had me by the throat. I did the best I could, but against three of them I had no chance."
"What did they do then?" asked Sanderson.
"They let the prisoners loose, and tied me to the stanchion. Then they went between decks, and I suppose they are there now."
We were on the lookout for the conspirators, but we heard nothing of them. I concluded that they were waiting for Martino to open the fore scuttle for them. I thought it was best to let them wait. I had deterred Sanderson from making an onslaught upon the pirates, but I was not yet ready to propose a plan of operations against them. Leaving Sanderson and Palmer at the door of the steerage, I went on deck to consult further with the captain. I was in favor, if possible, of postponing the battle till daylight.
"Phil, you have managed this thing so far, and I think you had better see it through," said Captain York; and there was not a little anxiety manifest in his tones.
"I will do the best I can; but you are the captain of the bark, and if you have any orders to give, I shall obey them, without regard to my own opinions."