" he said with savage earnestness, but speaking low so that the
two firemen could not overhear him; "we can send the whole lot of them
to hell together before we get to Ponape. Sit down, you blithering Dutch
idiot, and let them go! They are playing into our hands," and then he
whispered something in the captain's ears.

Hendry looked into the supercargo's face with half-terrified,
half-savage eyes.

"I'm with you, Sam. Better that than be hanged for shooting a couple of
niggers."

"Just so, Louis. Now make a protest to Oliver and Atkins, and ask them
to send those three natives back. They won't do it, of course, but be
quick about it. Say that you have only the two firemen and myself--who
are not seamen--to help you to take the boat to Ponape."

Hendry took his cue quickly enough, and hailed the two other boats.

"Mr. Oliver, and you, Mr. Atkins. My crew have deserted me. I do not
want to resort to force to make them return, but call upon you to come
alongside, and put those three men back into my boat."

Oliver made no answer for the moment. He, Harvey, Atkins, and Huka
talked earnestly together for a few minutes, and then the mate stood up
and spoke.

"The native crew refuse to obey your orders Captain Hendry. They accuse
you and Mr. Chard of murdering three of their shipmates. And I, and
every one in these two boats, know that you and Mr. Chard _did_ murder
them, and I'm not going to make these three men return to you. You
have a good boat, with mast, mainsail and jib, and more provisions than
either the second mate or myself. We have, in this boat of mine, only
six canoe paddles and no sail; the second mate has oars, but no sail.
You could reach Ponape long before we do if you want to leave us in the
lurch."

"And we'll be damned glad to be quit of your company," shouted Atkins.
"Hoist your sail, you goat-faced, sneaking Schneider, and get along!
When we are ashore at Ponape I'll take it out of _you_ captain, and Mr.
Carr will settle up differences with _you_ Mr. Chard--you black-faced
scoundrel! And, please God, you'll both swing in Fiji after we have done
with you."

Hendry made no answer to the second mate's remarks, which were
accompanied by a considerable number of oaths and much vigorous
blasphemy; for the honest-hearted Atkins detested both his captain and
the supercargo most fervently, as a pair of thoroughpaced villains.

But for very particular reasons Captain Hendry and Mr. Samuel Chard
did n