“We’ve won,” shouted John. “Your flag is struck.”
“Why, so it is,” said Captain Flint, struggling to a sitting position, and looking at the bare flagstaff. “Quick work. But very hot. I surrender.” He lay down flat, puffing heavily.
“Bind him,” said Captain Nancy.
Peggy picked up a coil of rope lying handy, and John and Peggy between them bound the prisoner’s legs together. Then, with the help of the others, they rolled him over and bound his arms. Then they tugged him along the deck, and lifted up the top part of him, so that he was sitting on the deck with his back leaning against the cabin. He fell over sideways. John pulled him up again, and he fell over on the other side. “I’ll put you up once more,” said Peggy, “but, if you roll over again, you shall lie there.”
At that moment Titty came back.
“If we’re going to make him walk the plank,” she said, “there’s one all ready on the foredeck.”
“So there is,” cried Nancy. “I’d forgotten about it. But how are we going to get him there?”
Captain Flint wriggled his feet, and wagged his head from side to side.
“I’m not a snake,” he said, “I can’t get along without feet.”
“We must get him to the foredeck somehow,” said Captain Nancy.
“Undo his legs and make him walk over the cabin,” said Peggy.
“Cabin roof won’t bear me,” said the prisoner.
“It’s not safe to let prisoners go below,” said Titty. “They might set fire to the magazine and blow up the ship.”