repeated the
blow on Harvey's upturned face, when Tessa sprang at him like a tigress,
and struck him again and again on the temple with her revolver. He fell
back, bleeding and half stunned.

"You cowards--you pair of miserable curs!" she cried to Chard, who was
standing with his handkerchief to his lips, glaring savagely at the
prostrate figure of Harvey. "Stand back," and she covered him with her
weapon, as he made a step towards her, "stand back, or I will shoot you
dead." Then as the second mate, Huka, and another native appeared on the
poop, she sank on her knees beside Harvey, and called for water.

Hendry, whose face was streaming with blood, though he was but little
hurt, rose to his feet and addressed the second mate.

"Mr. Atkins, put that man in irons," and he pointed to Harvey, who was
now sitting up, with Tessa holding a glass of water to his lips.

The second mate eyed his captain sullenly. "He is scarcely conscious
yet, sir."

"Do you refuse to obey me? Quick, answer me. Where is the mate? Mr.
Chard, I call on you to support my authority."

Harvey looked at the second mate, whose features were working curiously.
He rose and pressed Tessa's hand.

"You must obey him, Atkins," he said. "If you don't he'll break you.
He's a spiteful hound."

Atkins, with a sorrowful face, went to his cabin and returned with a
pair of handcuffs, just as the chief officer appeared. As he stepped
on the poop he was followed by half-a-dozen of the native crew, who
advanced towards Hendry and the supercargo with threatening glances.

"Go for'ard, you swine!" shouted Chard, who saw that they meant a
rescue. He darted into Hendry's cabin, and reappeared with the captain's
revolvers, one of which he handed to him.

Harvey looked contemptuously at the supercargo, then turning to the
natives he spoke to them in Samoan, and earnestly besought them to
go for'ard, telling them of the penalties they would suffer if they
disputed the captain's authority. They obeyed him with reluctance,
and left the poop. Then he held out his hands to the second mate, who
snapped the handcuffs on his wrists.

"Take him to the for'ard deck-house," snarled Hendry viciously.

"I protest against this, sir," said Oliver respectfully. "I beg of you
to beware of what you are doing."

Hendry gave him a furious glance, but his rage choked his utterance.

Tessa Remington followed the prisoner to the break of the poop and
whispered to him ere he des