of pistols apiece. There are some one or two of
the men who are the worse for drink, but still sober enough to know what
they are doing, and we may have a tussle. Put on these caps and
jackets, and come as quick as you can. The jolly-boat is on the
starboard side, near the stern. She's not in the water yet, but
everything is ready for lowering her. Quiet's the word."

The boys obeyed. They crept cautiously on deck, pulling the caps over
their foreheads, and imitating as well as they could the movements of
drunken men. They soon reached the jolly-boat, where old Jennings was
waiting for them. The helm had been lashed, but every ten minutes or so
one of the watch came aft to see that all was right. Jennings had
unfastened the lashings and taken the rudder, telling the first man who
came up that he would see to it for the rest of the watch. The man
willingly enough accepted his services, and this skilful manoeuvre saved
them for the time from further interruption.

"Lower quickly, Mr Lavie," he whispered in the doctor's ear. "Andy
Duncan has had liquor enough to make half a dozen men drunk, but he
knows what he's doing for all that. He's keeping an eye on the ship,
and may be down upon us any minute."

He was obeyed promptly and in silence. The boat was lowered without
attracting notice. Warley was the first to slip down the rope, and was
safely followed by Nick. Frank was just climbing over the bulwark when
a man staggered up, and accused them with a volley of drunken oaths of
intending to desert.

"No, no, Andy," said Jennings quickly, "no one means to desert. There's
a man overboard, and we're lowering a boat to pick him up. Make haste,
my lad," he continued, addressing Wilmore, "or he'll be too far astern
for us to help him."

Frank promptly took the cue, and vanished over the side. For a moment
Duncan was staggered by the old quartermaster's readiness, but the next
he caught a momentary glimpse of Frank's features.

"Hallo, that's young Wilmore, that's the captain's nevvy, as you said
had been left behind," he shouted. "There's some devilry here! Help,
my lads, there!" He drew a pistol as he spoke, and fired at Mr Lavie's
head, who was attempting to seize him.

His nerves were unsteady from drink, and the bullet missed its mark; but
it struck Joe Cobbes on the temple, who fell on the instant stone dead.
Some of the men, startled by the pistol shot, came reeling up from the
forecastle.