The seven members of the Nautifelers Club were very busy with their beer. Dory had closed the door of the steerage, and fastened it before; for he had anticipated, to some extent, the imprisonment of the party in the cabin. They had not yet discovered what had happened to Sang and Wick: the beer monopolized all their attention.
The machinist went aft when he had secured the hatchway, and strengthened the fastenings of the companion-way. As the doors opened outward, he fixed a wooden brace in such a way that they could not be moved, while a simple stick of the right length made it impossible to start the slide.
"I think they will stay where they are for a while," said the instructor, when he had completed his precautions.
"We shall not have to keep them there a great while, for the wind is very lively, and we shall soon get into the river though we shall have to beat up," replied Dory. "I should say they can't get out at the companion-way."
"I had a better chance there to work than I had at the hatchway. But in being on deck, we have all the advantage," added the machinist.
"I suppose some or all of them are armed with revolvers," suggested Dory.
"Probably they are, but they are not in a good position to use them."
Just at this moment the noise in the cabin suddenly ceased; and a moment later, there was an attempt made to start the slide at the companion-way.
"They have finished the keg of beer, I should think, for I doubt if they would be willing to leave any of it. I will go forward and have an eye to the hatches," said the instructor.
"On deck, there!" shouted one of the prisoners, whose voice Dory recognized as that of Mack.