to be told I had served
her by loyalty to the man. Aye, I felt lifted up; I felt important.

"You can count on me. I'll back you to the limit," I said. Then I
rushed on, eagerly, and blurted out what was on my mind. "You are in
danger; I know it, I feel it. That Old Man is planning something
against you. Remember that night on the yardarm! Remember the lady's
warning! Look at Nils! I tell you, we'll have to fight! You can
depend upon me, I'll back you to the limit in anything. So will the
squareheads--you know how desperate and bitter they are. So will the
stiffs--they are just waiting for you to say the word. Every man-jack
for'ard will follow you!"

He checked me with stern words. "Put that thought out of your mind!"
he exclaimed. "There will be no mutiny, if I can prevent it. If one
occurs, I shall help put it down."

I was astonished and crestfallen. But after a moment he went on, more
kindly.

"I know you are thinking of my safety, lad, and I thank you. But you
do not know what you are proposing. Mutiny on the high seas is
madness, and these jail-birds for'ard would be worse masters than those
we now have. Besides, you do not understand my situation--an uprising
of the crew whether or not led by me, is the very thing the captain
expects and wishes. You are quite right in thinking he intends to kill
me--and not me alone--but at present he is checkmated. I am an able
seaman, I do my work and enjoy the favor of my watch officer, and both
Lynch and the tradesmen revere the lady and hate, while they fear,
their master. But in case of a mutiny--why, Jack, those fellows aft
would unite, and back up Swope in anything he chose to do. Their own
safety would depend upon it. He would have his excuse to kill."

"But if we win--" I commenced.

"We would be murderers, and our necks would be forfeit," he
interrupted. "Put away the thought, lad, for only evil can come of it.
A mutiny would mean disaster to the crew, to you, to me, and above all,
to her. For her sake, Jack, we must prevent any outbreak."

"For her sake?" I echoed. I was aghast. Somehow, it had never
occurred to me that the lady might be in any danger. "You don't mean
that she would be harmed!" I exclaimed.

He nodded, and there crept into his eyes an expression grim and
desperate. "I have cursed myself for giving way to the storm of hate
and passion that brought me on board this ship," he said, moodily.
"And yet--it could no