n the gangway, each with the bag containing
his few belongings in his hand, waiting to be passed in turn down over
the side. Rogers rapidly ran his eye over them, satisfied himself that
everybody was present, and then began to call out their names in the
order in which they were to leave the ship. When one boat had received
its complement and shoved off, Walford once more pressed forward, half
wild with anxiety now, and begged in piteous terms that he might not be
left on board, as now seemed to be the actual determination of the
mutineers. Upon this Talbot lost all patience with him, and, seizing
him once more by the collar, thrust him before him into the saloon,
exclaiming as he did so--

"Now look here, you meddlesome young jackanapes, there's been enough
blood spilt on board this ship already--chiefly in consekence of your
havin' shoved in your oar where it weren't wanted, and advisin' the
skipper to flog a sick man--and I don't want to have to shed any more,
you understand? Wery well, then; you stay in here until that there
clock have marked off a good half-hour; arter that you may come out and
do the best you can for yourself; there's plenty o' spars knockin' about
the decks here, which you can lash together, and make a tip-top raft out
of 'em, upon which you can go for a cruise on your own account; but if
you shows your ugly head outside this here cabin before the half-hour's
out, damn me if I won't lash your neck and heels together, and heave you
into the middle of the fire there for'ard. Comprenny?"

So saying, he coolly shifted the key from the inside to the outside of
the saloon-door, slammed the latter, turned the key, and then the
wretched Walford heard the heavy tramp of his footsteps upon the deck
rapidly growing fainter and more faint as he walked away.

CHAPTER NINE.

DRIVEN TO MADNESS.

As the key turned in the lock, Walford sank down in a state of
semi-stupefaction upon one of the saloon sofas, listening like one in a
dream to the distant sound of the men's voices and the occasional tramp
of feet, as the mutineers passed, one by one, down the ship's side into
the boats. A few minutes more and these sounds ceased. He lifted up
his head, listening eagerly; but he could hear nothing, save the dismal
creaking of the bulkheads, the moaning of the wind, the monotonous
_swish, swish_ of the water washing across the deck outside with the
roll of the ship, and the dull hum and crackling of the