"Who has the first trick at the wheel in our watch?" I asked.
"Martino," replied Sanderson.
"Then we must muzzle Gorro forward. Each man must have his own job to do. Six men shall take off the forward hatch, and passing through the between-decks, make their way to the cabin through the steerage."
"Why not go down the cabin stairs?" asked Sanderson.
"Because Martino, at the helm, would give the alarm."
"I like the plan, Phil. We will go over it again, and give each man his part of the work."
"Sail ho!" shouted Sylvio, one of the Spanish sailors, who was in the waist.
The mate sprang into the weather mizzen rigging to examine the sail, and in a few moments we all discovered a streak of black smoke on the sky, which indicated a steamer.