by Carol Norton
CHAPTER XVII.
OUTWITTED.
THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they wereeager to talk over the next move to be made.
"Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared thecaptain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel'sfoul play. "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them morechances to work out their devilish tricks. It's better to have troublewith them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps havethem take us unawares."
"Thank goodness the time for action is close at hand," Charley agreed,"I could not stand this anxiety and suspense much longer. Let's go overour plan once more and make sure that we each know our parts so thatthere will be no hitch when we come to carry them out. Now as soon aswe have supper Chris and I will get into the dingy and pretend that weare going to row around for fun. We will pull back and forth until itgets good and dark, then we'll gradually work out to that buoy. Wewill cut it adrift, take it aboard, pull due East from the schooner fora mile and anchor it again. That will throw them way off the scent ifthey should manage to get back here again before us, while it will tellus just where to look for the wreck. That part is easy, the troublewill come when we get back to the boat. First thing we had better do isto stretch several ropes across the deck from rail to rail just forwardof the mainmast. That will delay and bother them if they should try torush us in a body. The next move will be to get Manuel aft and get theirons on him. We had better get him down here in the cabin to attemptthat. As soon as we get him helpless, we will carry him up and make himgive our orders to get up anchor and get sail on the schooner. He's toogreat a coward to encourage his shipmates to make a rush for us so longas he is in our power. They may try it in spite of him, however, whenthey realize that the gold is going to be lost to them. If they do wewill have to fight them off while Chris tends to the wheel. We don'twant any bloodshed if we can help it but we mustn't let them get aft ofthe mainmast, they would make short work of us if it ever came to closequarters. Do you all understand now what we have to do?"
His companions nodded.
"Then we had better reload our pistols, fill up our cartridge belts,and get ready," he continued. "I'll get the ammunition."
But in a moment he was back from his cabin, his face pale and grave.
"How many shells have you got left in your pistol?" he demanded.
"One," Walter replied, while Chris and the captain broke open theirweapons to show only empty chambers.
"I have got three shots left, that makes four altogether," Charleysaid, hopelessly. "All the rest of our ammunition has been stolen outof my bunk."
His companions grew as grave and pale as himself at the announcement.With only four shots left they were practically helpless in the handsof the Greeks.
"There is just one chance left," Charley declared, desperately. "Wehave got to get Manuel in our power and try to control the crew throughhim. It may work and it may not, but it's our only hope. Chris, go tellhim we want to see him here in the cabin."
As soon as the little negro had gone, Charley brought out a pair ofhandcuffs from his grip and placed them in his pocket. "When I givethe signal, get them on him," he said. "I'll lock the door so that hecannot get out or the crew come to help him. He'll likely put up afight and we'll have to watch out for his knife, but the three of ushad ought to be able to handle him. But hush, here they come now."
Footsteps sounded on the companionway stairs, the cabin door opened,and Chris appeared, closely followed by the Greek. The little negrostepped inside but Manuel paused on the threshold and swept a keenglance over the assembled party. Perhaps some instinct warned him ofhis danger, perhaps he decided that the time had come for his lasttreacherous move. With a quick leap, he sprang back through the opendoorway, slammed the door to, and bolted it outside, and the littleband of chums were prisoners in the cabin of their own ship.
Charley leaped from his chair, but he was too late.
"Outwitted," he cried as he sank back into his seat. "Beaten at everypoint of the game. What fools, what bunglers we are." There was as muchchagrin as fear in his exclamations. To be so badly beaten after allhis vigilance and careful planning was hard to bear.
His companions sat silent with despair. So suddenly had it all happenedthey had not yet had time to realize that they were completely in thehands of the Greeks who could do with them as they pleased.
Charley flipped open his pistol and handed one of his remainingcartridges to his chum, "That gives us two apiece," he observed,"although I doubt if we will either of us need them." He retired tohis cabin and reappeared with a blanket and a book. He spread out theblanket on the floor and stretching himself out on it prepared to read."Might as well get what enjoyment we can," he said. "There's nothing wecan do, so we might as well take it easy while we may."
"How can you be so careless?" his chum exclaimed, "any minute they maycome down upon us."
"Little danger of that," the other replied, coolly. "They know we'vegot four shots left yet. What would be the use of their taking chanceswhen they have got everything in their own hands."
But his companions could not view their position with the same hopelessresignation. While he read on apparently unconcerned, they discussedplan after plan for escape from their prison and perilous situation,only to reject one after the other as wildly impracticable. At lastthey abandoned the discussion in despair.
"Better turn in and try to get a good night's rest," Charley advisedthem calmly. "I will keep watch for the first four hours, although Idon't believe there's the slightest use of it."
"I'm too hungry to sleep," Walter declared. "I wonder why they do notsend us down our supper."
"Bless your simple little soul," his chum exclaimed, "They do notintend us to have anything to eat. I thought you understood that."
His companions looked at each other in dismay. This, the greatest ofall their perils, had not before occurred to them. They understood nowthe awfulness of their position. All the food and water were storedforward. The Greeks had only to let them alone and they would slowlydie of hunger and thirst.
"They will not get us that way," declared Walter, desperately. "BeforeI'll die of hunger and thirst I'll set the schooner on fire."
Charley nodded approval. "I've been thinking of that myself," he said."A quick death is better than a slow torturing one. But there is plentyof time to talk of that. While there is life there is hope and I havea feeling that something is going to turn up to help us out of thisscrape. I've just happened to think of one thing that's in our favor."
He was prevented from explaining the new hope which had occurred to himby a knock on the cabin door and Manuel's sneering voice enquiring,
"Are the gentlemen quite comfortable?"
"Quite," Charley assured him, calmly. "Much more comfortable than youand your mates will be when the law reckons with you."
"There is no law at sea but the law of the strongest and most cunning,"the Greek said, smoothly. "But I bear a proposal from my shipmates foryour distinguished consideration."
"State it," replied the lad, briefly.
"You are all in a bad position," stated the Greek with oilymaliciousness. "You were cunning but not cunning enough or ourpositions would now be reversed. We have only to do nothing now and youwill all die. It would sadden our hearts to lose such loving friendsbut we would strive to bear up bravely under the blow. But why shouldyou all die when we are willing to spare one. All that one would haveto do would be to take an oath to be faithful and true to us and do aswe bid him. Not only would his life be spared, but he would receive ashare of the great wealth we have discovered."
"Why are you so very generous in your offers?" Walter demanded,sarcastically.
