before the week is out. I'll just lie low and rest up a bit, and by
the time we're off Rio I'll drop on them like a top-mast in a typhoon.
Then with the help of the two Chinamen, the steward and Reardon 'twill
not be hard to run her into Rio. I wonder if that pirate frisked me of
my five thousand." He searched through his clothing and was amazed to
discover that the bills were still in his possession.

"I'll give them back in the morning," he concluded. "I had a pistol
in the drawer of my desk and a rifle in that locker;" and in the wild
hope that his luck still held, he searched eagerly for both. They were
gone.

Nevertheless, Michael J. Murphy smiled as he wrapped a wet towel round
his throbbing head, for he had already decided upon his plan of
campaign for regaining command of his ship, a _coup_ for which he
required no weapon more formidable than his native intelligence. As he
sank groaning into the arms of Morpheus, however, even a Digger Indian
would have realized that for the next two weeks the master of the
_Narcissus_ would be unable to defend himself against an old lady
armed with a slipper. Nevertheless, the indomitable fellow, with the
amazing optimism of his race, had already decided to attack and
subdue, within four days, thirty-six husky male enemies; which lends
some color to the oft-repeated declaration that an Irishman fights
best when he is on his back with his opponent feeling for his
windpipe.

When Michael J. Murphy awoke it was broad daylight and Herr August
Carl von Staden was standing over him. The supercargo was clad in an
immaculate suit of white flannels and was looking as fresh as new
paint.