rd was then placed over the magazine, and the
two after guns were hauled in and trained forward. These preparations
were made so suddenly and so quietly that even the watch on deck were
scarcely aware of what was going forward. There was no time to lose,
for while those preparations were going on, Ned Davis, who had been on
the watch, made his way aft with the information that a number of the
men were collecting together forward, armed with all the weapons they
could lay hold of, and that from the threats they were uttering they
evidently intended to make a sudden dash aft, in the expectation of
surprising the officers before they had left their berths. It was very
evident that they would have done so had it not been for the warning
conveyed by Denham.

When the sun, as it does in those latitudes, suddenly burst above the
waters, and darkness rapidly gave place to daylight, the officers and
the marines were found drawn up on the quarter-deck, and the mutineers
who, at that moment, made a sudden rush aft along the main deck, found
themselves confronted by a body of marines, who issued from the
gun-room; others who came along the upper deck also saw that their plot
was discovered, and that they had not a hope of success. The drum then
beat to quarters, and all hands were summoned on deck. The first
lieutenant now stepping forward, exclaimed, "What is it you want, my
lads? if you are treated with injustice, say so. If you have anything
else to complain of, let me know, but, as you see, your mutinous
intentions are discovered, and let me tell you that those who are guilty
will receive the punishment which they merit." Not a man spoke in
return for some time. At length several coming aft, declared they knew
nothing about the intentions of the rest, when it was found that the
mutineers consisted chiefly of the Irish rebels who had been put on
board at Cork, and of a few smugglers and gaol-birds who had been won
over by Higson.

"Some of you will grace the yard-arm before long," observed the first
lieutenant, "but I intend to give you another trial. I have no wish
that any man should die for this day's work, however richly some of you
may deserve it. Those who prove faithful to their duty will find that
they are rewarded, and those who act as traitors to their king and
country will discover, too late, that they will not go unpunished. Now
pipe below."

The mutiny which at first threatened such serious consequence