"Keep her going, Cap', or I'll run them down!"
"We stood by you, old man," Emerson urged; "you stand by us. They can't make you stop. They can't come aboard."
The launch was abreast of them now, and skimming along so close that one might have tossed a biscuit aboard of her. For an instant Captain Peasley hesitated; then Emerson saw the ends of his bristly mustache rise above an expansive grin as he winked portentously. But his voice was convincingly loud and wrathful as he replied:
"What do you mean, sir? I'll have my blooming ship libelled for this."
"I'll make good your losses," Emerson volunteered, quickly, realizing that other ears were open.
"Why, it's mutiny, sir."
"Exactly! You can say you went out under duress."
"I never heard of such a thing," stormed the skipper. Then, more quietly, "But I don't seem to have any choice in the matter; do I?"
"None whatever."
"Tell them to go to hell!" growled Balt from the open window above their head.