"Awfully awkward," commented Cardyke, as Rutter sent for him and explained the situation. "We can't drift about here for another week or more."
"There are at least forty of the skunks below, but that don't signify," observed the American. "With a dozen men to back me up I guess I'd put the fear of Old Nick into their black hearts. Shall I whip up a crowd, and tackle the reptiles?"
Cardyke shook his head.
"It's too risky," he replied.
"Too risky, eh?" exclaimed the American. "I thought you chaps didn't count risks. But I'm willing to go, and I guess I stand the racket if I make a mess of this business."
"You misunderstand me, Mr. Rutter. I quite realise that you are capable of tackling these rascals. You might succeed; on the other hand, you might fail. By failing it is quite possible that you might be compelled to leave prisoners in their hands, and then, you see, they would have a hold over us."
"Didn't think of that," replied Hiram B. Rutter. "Of course they would. But what are we to do?"
"Summon them to surrender; if they don't, well, we'll starve them out. You speak their lingo, so you might let them know what we intend to do."
Accordingly Rutter shouted to the men that he wanted to say a few words. He told them what Cardyke had threatened to do, adding on his own responsibility the threat that should any man tamper with the machinery he would be treated to a liberal dose of the cat as soon as his capture was effected.
The men debated amongst themselves, and eventually promised to surrender. They were, they asserted, in a very different position from the rest of the pirate crew. For the most part Italians, they had been "signed on" in ignorance of the rôle the captured cruiser was to play; they had taken no active part in the deeds of violence, and were under compulsion to a certain extent. Cardyke promised that their plea would be given careful consideration at the trial that must inevitably ensue should the vessel reach port. He also agreed to segregate them from the rest of the pirates, lest the latter should intimidate or offer violence to their former comrades.