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Rh turn the craft over to those Chinamen," answered the second mate.

"Has he a right to do that?"

"I don't think he has—and whether he has or not, I'm not going to let him do it," and Watt Brown shook his head determinedly. "He's a bad egg."

"He is that," I went on. "I want to bring him to justice myself. Why, he tried to take my life!"

"We'll hold the fort, as Brown says," put in Dan. "The question is, how are we going to do it?"

"I'll show you!" cried the second mate, and snatching up one of the muskets he shot it off in the air.

As the report rolled out to sea the rowers in the small boat dropped their blades, while Captain Kenny leaped to his feet. The former commander waved his hand, as Watt Brown came into view.

"Ahoy, there!" he cried, at the top of his lungs.

For reply the second mate seized a speaking trumpet with which he had supplied himself. "Keep off!" he yelled. "Keep off, or we'll blow you and your boat to kingdom come!"