, in defence of
the ship, to fire on one's own shipmates, but to fire on their backs was
too much; and Lieutenant Adrian probably understood as much when he saw
that we all preferred his second order to his first.

It was a short business making good the hatchways, after first driving
below the few stragglers who lingered above board. Then we had leisure
to take stock of the execution our volleys had effected. Eleven men,
including Callan and two of his fellow ringleaders, were dead. Eight
more were mortally wounded, and thirty-eight lay hurt, some badly, some
slightly. We lost no time in throwing the dead overboard, and carrying
those most in need of succour out of the reach of the waves. Tarpaulins
were spread for the rest till a place could be found for them in some of
the after-cabins.

The doctor (who reported that Captain Swift had breathed his last while
the engagement was at its height) did what he could to dress the wounds
of the sufferers, and impressed the services of one or two of the
handiest of the men present as assistants.

Just then, however, with the gale threatening every moment to snap the
masts, it was even more important to get hands aloft to shorten sail.
The midshipmen and officers gallantly undertook this difficult task, but
not in time to save the main-topgallant mast, which fell with a crash,
carrying away the purser and the boatswain's mate, and fouling the
rigging below with its wreck. No sooner was this cleared, and the top
courses taken in, than the man who had been for some moments conning the
strange sails on the horizon reported,--

"Two Dutchmen, sir, thirty-six guns a-piece, bearing this way."

During the struggle with the mutineers we had almost forgotten the
presence of these strangers, and now found them not a league away
standing across the wind to meet us.

It was a hopeless venture to meet them, but Mr Adrian preferred it to
putting the _Zebra_ about and running away.

"Let them come," said he; "they can't do worse than these scoundrels
down below. Stand by the guns, gentlemen!"

We obeyed willingly enough. Had Mr Adrian only been a gentleman as
well as an officer we could have cheered him. But the vision of his
face as he gave the word to mow down his own crew stuck in my memory and
robbed _me_ of all the enthusiasm which his present courage deserved.

On we sped, and nearer drew the Dutchmen. Evidently they were cruisers
on the prowl for an enemy, or sent t