“What ails you, Truax? You heard the captain’s order. You’ll go with me.”

“Don’t be too sure of that,” uttered Sam Truax, defiantly.

“If you don’t go above with me, and if you don’t follow every order you
get aboard this boat, I know where you _will_ go,” muttered Eph,
decisively.

“Where?” jeered Sam.

“Ashore—in the first boat that can take you there.”

“You seem to forget that I’m on board by David Pollard’s order,” sneered
Truax.

“All I am sure of,” retorted Eph, “is that Jack Benson is captain on board
this craft. That means that he’s sole judge of everything here when this
boat is cruising. If you were here by the orders of both owners, Jack
Benson would fire you ashore for good, just the same, after you’ve balked
at the first order.”

“Humph! I—”

Clang! Jangle! The signal bell was sounding.

“Shut up,” ordered Eph Somers, briskly. “I’ve got the engine to run on
signal from the watch officer.”

There followed a series of signals, first of all for stopping speed, then