hrope!" he called loudly down the companion.
"Come up here at once and leave the ladies for the present. Something
dreadful has happened!"

Then, without uttering another word, he jumped down alongside of Mr
Meldrum on the lower deck; where, catching up a marlinspike that was
handy, he rapped vehemently against the coamings of the hatchway, some
of the hands having gone to bunk down there since the cargo had been
partly removed, on account of the forecastle being quite untenable from
the water that had accumulated there, besides which the waves were now
washing over it freely.

"All hands ahoy!" sang out Frank. "Tumble up, men! Tumble up just as
you are! There's murder afloat!"

"Stow that yelling!" cried the group around Moody, who did not wish to
be interrupted yet awhile with their plans; but Frank took no notice of
their observations, save that a contemptuous smile passed over his face
as he compressed his lips.

"Who did it?" asked he of Mr Meldrum, looking down at the latter as he
bent over the poor captain, supporting his head and shoulders still on
his knee so that he might breathe more freely.

"That man there," was the answer, Mr Meldrum pointing to where Moody
was standing in the centre of some ten others of the same kidney. "The
same man whom Captain Dinks knocked down the other day for
insubordination, and whom I saw threaten him afterwards, as I can swear.
If the captain dies, he will be tried for wilful murder, and hung, for
it was no accidental blow, but a deliberately premeditated deed!"

"Oh, Bill Moody? I thought it was that scoundrel!" exclaimed Frank; and
in a moment he had leaped fearlessly amidst the throng--with the
marlinspike fortunately still in his hand, for he was otherwise
weaponless.

"Stand back!" shouted one of the men warningly, pushing him away--not in
any rough fashion, but as if to keep him out of harm's way. "We don't
wish to do you any hurt, Mr Harness, but I'd advise you to leave Moody
alone! He's desperate now and might cause you an injury; besides which,
he's one of us, and we don't intend to give him up!"

"Don't you?" exclaimed Frank, flaming up and struggling with the man who
held him back; while the would-be murderer, drawing another knife from
his belt, stood apparently at bay waiting for him to come on.

"Hillo! what's all this yere muss about?" called out Mr Lathrope,
appearing on the poop at this juncture; "whar's everybody!"

"Here, help!" said Frank