e occupants of the ship being by this time on the
_qui vive_, and he was therefore in the presence of the skipper within a
minute of the mention of his name. To him Captain Staunton at once
delegated the command of the starboard watch, saying at the same time a
few words expressive of confidence in his prudence and seamanship.

"One word more, men," said the skipper, again addressing the watch. "I
have suspended Mr Carter not because I regard you as in the _right_, or
as in any way justified in your behaviour, but because he was manifestly
_wrong_. I must therefore very earnestly caution you, one and all,
against again refusing obedience to any commands issued by your
officers. If those commands are such as to constitute a substantial
grievance, or if they should by any chance be such as to manifestly
imperil the safety of the ship or the lives of any of those on board, I
am always to be found, and the matter must at once be referred to me. I
shall always be ready to protect you from tyranny or intemperate
treatment; but remember from this time forward there must be nothing
even remotely resembling insubordination. Now, go back to your duty."

The men walked quietly away forward, and Captain Staunton, accompanied
by Mr Bowles, retired below to make an immediate entry of the
occurrence in the official log-book.

The occupants of the saloon were naturally greatly exercised by the
event, which formed the staple of conversation next day. It was
interesting to observe the way in which the subject was regarded by the
various members of the little community. O'Reilly, the editor of the
"Galatea Free Press," was wild with excitement at contemplation of the
narrow escape they had had from a mutiny and its attendant fight; and he
exhibited a curious study of mingled irritation and satisfaction--of
irritation that the fight had not come off, and of satisfaction that he
had not been compelled to take up arms against any of the forecastle
hands, every one of whom he regarded in his free-hearted way as a
personal friend, and with every one of whom he was a prime favourite.

The ladies, who really understood nothing whatever of the merits of the
case, with that unerring instinct which invariably leads them to a right
conclusion, sided unanimously with the seamen; while a few of the more
timid among the male passengers regarded Carter as a sort of hero-
martyr, Mr Dale being especially loud and indiscreet in his
denunciation