where I had found it, and that I knew nothing more about the
matter.

Tearing it open, as he read it a frown gathered on his brow. "The
mutinous rascals! I'll not yield to them," he exclaimed. "Say nothing
about this till I come on deck," he said to me. "Send Mr Griffiths
here."

When the mate came the captain read the letter to him. They then armed
themselves and went on deck, when the second mate was ordered to muster
all hands aft.

"Who wrote this letter?" asked the captain, in a firm tone.

No one answered, and there was silence for some time, until the captain
repeated the question.

"It was Muggins," at last said one of the men.

Muggins was one of the last hands shipped, and though a man of some
education, he always seemed to me utterly worthless. He was a friend of
the three brothers, who went by the names of Washington, Crampton, and
Clifford.

"But in this precious letter I have the names of all the crew,"
exclaimed the captain.

Several of the men on this protested that they knew nothing about the
letter, and had not put their names to any paper.

"Well, then, let those who have agreed to it walk over to the port side,
and those who wish to stick to their duty and remain in the ship go to
the starboard side."

Eight only walked over, including those I have mentioned.

On this Miles Soper, stepping aft and touching his hat, said, "I never
like to peach on shipmates, but, as an honest man, I can't hold my
tongue. On two different nights I saw Muggins get up and change the
meat and throw dirt in among the bread. One night he carried up some of
the best pieces and hove them overboard.

"It's clear to me that he did it to make the rest of us discontented
with our victuals. I had made up my mind to speak about it, but I
couldn't catch him at it again, though I'm certain he played the same
trick more than once afterwards."

"I believe you, Soper," said the captain, and at a signal from him the
mates rushed forward and seized Muggins, whom they dragged aft, none of
the others interfering. The captain then produced a pair of handcuffs
which he had got ready, and fixed them on the wrists of the man. He
then called to Horner, Jim, and me to assist the mates, and together we
carried the man down below and shut him up in the cabin store-room, the
captain meantime remaining by himself on deck. When we returned we
found that the crew hadn't moved.

"Now, lads!" he said; "you who have made up