that was the last night he should spend in that den. but the scheme met with no opposition on the part of the other two; they swore they were ready for that, or for any other mad thing, for anything in short but a surrender. and what was more, they each insisted upon being the first man on deck, when the time to make the rush should come. but to this their leader as fiercely objected, reserving that priority for himself; particularly as his two comrades would not yield, the one to the other, in the matter; and both of them could not be first, for the ladder would but admit one man at a time. and here, gentlemen, the foul play of these miscreants must come out.