"No one but the engineer and the fireman, except two boys," answered
Ben. "They were all going to turn in as soon as they got to the wharf."
"The firemen are both men, but I reckon they won't fight; all the rest are boys."
"One fireman and two boys have turned in by this time," added Ben.
"Then there is no one up but the engineer and one fireman?"
"No."
"Where is the gold, Ben?"
"In the starboard saloon stateroom."
"All right; have your pistols ready, but don't use them, for it will be bad for us if we have to kill any one."
The party walked down to the Woodville. All was still on board of her, except the sound of escaping steam. Ethan stood sentry at the door of the stateroom containing the gold, and the man on watch in the fire-room was busy reading a newspaper. It was not sunset yet, but the crew of the Woodville had been worked so hard for three days that those off duty could sleep without an opiate.
"Put on that hatch," said the fireman, who became the leading spirit of the party, as he pointed to the companion-way of the forehold, where the hands slept.