ings this here charge
in the name of all hands; so, if there's any of yer as disagrees with
what he've said, just stand up like men and say so."

A profound silence followed, no man making the slightest sign or token
of dissent. "Very well," resumed Rogers; "nobody don't seem to have
anything to say agin the charge. Now, you that _agrees_ with Talbot,
and thinks as he've stated the case fairly, hold up y'ur hands."

Every hand was at once and unhesitatingly raised at arm's length.

"Unanermous," pronounced Rogers. "Now, Robert Arnold, you've heard
what's been charged agin yer, and you've seen that all hands of us
agrees that the charge is just. What have yer got to say in y'ur
defence?"

"Nothing," answered the captain; "except that I utterly disclaim your
right to sit in judgment upon me or to criticise my actions in any
manner whatsoever. Your conduct is in the last degree illegal and
unjustifiable. You are a pack of mutinous scoundrels; and I warn you
that a terrible punishment will surely overtake you if you persist in
your defiance of my authority. If, however, you will return to your
duty and deliver up to us, your duly appointed officers, the ringleaders
in this disgraceful mutiny, I will undertake to overlook this most
serious offence, so far as the rest of you are concerned."

"You hear what the prisoner says, shipmates," observed Rogers calmly.
"Do you consider as he've made good his defence? Is it your opinion as
he've justified hisself? Them as thinks he have, hold up their hands.
Them as thinks he haven't, stand up."

The self-constituted judges with one accord rose to their feet.

"That'll do; you may sit down agin," remarked Rogers. "The prisoner is
found _guilty_. The next question to be settled is the matter of
punishment. Now, there's a many ways of punishing a man, some on 'em
more severe than others. The most severest as I knows is _death_; death
by hangin' from the yard-arm. Them as thinks the prisoner Arnold
deservin' of this punishment, hold up their hands."

Two or three hands were hesitatingly raised, and, after a slight pause,
lowered again.

"Do I understand as _everybody_ thinks hangin' too severe?" inquired
Rogers, glancing slowly round the table. "I do,"--as no hands were
shown. "Well then, let's try something else. Perhaps, shipmates, some
of yer's got a hidee as you'd like to put afore the court? If so, let's
hear what it is."

"I thinks as it would be no mor