The ladies were
his wife and his sixteen-year-old daughter, Miss Ethel Johnson was the
steward's name.
"Get after the yacht again, Captain Benson," requested Commander
Ennerling. "We have the owner and the ladies safe, but we've got to
take that crew to land as mutineers."
"They'll fight to the last shot," declared Mr. Lawton, shaking his head.
"Did you and your steward bring your revolvers with you?" asked
Ennerling.
"No; we tossed them into the sea as we dived," laughed Mr. Lawton.
"Bringing weapons to a Naval craft is like carrying coals to Newcastle."
"Unfortunately," rejoined the commander, plaintively, "this isn't yet
a Naval vessel, and the most dangerous weapon aboard is the breadknife
in the galley. But how did the mutiny start, Mr. Lawton? And how did
you come to have such a rascally crew aboard?"
"Two or three bad men got into the crew, started fights, and some of the
old crew quit. Then these bad men passed the word to other tough
characters to apply to my captain. In a short time the crew was all of
one piece of cloth, including the fellows in the engine room."
"How many mutineers are there aboard?"
"Thirteen, in all. Even the cook joined them."
"But your officers?"
"Captain Peters and Mate Sidney. It was the mate's watch when the
trouble started. You see, as most of my cruises have been short, I
carried but one mate.
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