nd pointed to the hacked and bleeding
body of the dead captain, just discernible in the darkness. Todd at once
secured Hunter's pistols, and Loft-green at the same moment burst the
door of his cabin and came out, and the two men, who had no time for
words, prepared to sell their lives dearly, believing that those of the
crew who might have been loyal had been slaughtered. For some minutes
they stood waiting in the darkness, and heard no sound but the moans of
the steward, who was fast weakening from loss of blood.

Then came a sudden rush down the companion-way, and the Chilenos, with
savage cries, were upon them! Poor Loftgreen's pistols were in bad
order, and missed fire, and although the two men fought desperately with
their empty weapons they were soon overpowered, and with the steward
were taken on deck and lashed to the poop stanchions. Exhausted and
bleeding profusely, they presently saw some of the mutineers emerge from
the cabin, dragging with them Captain Hunter's body, which they at once
threw overboard.

Before these events had taken place the Chilians had quietly secured
the fore-scuttle, battening down the carpenter, cook, and three other
European seamen, so that even before Loftgreen was attacked the ship was
practically in the hands of the six mutineers, for the man at the wheel
was one of their number.

Leaving the two officers and the steward guarded by two men, the
remaining four mutineers, after heaving-to the brig, went below to the
bloodstained cabin, and breaking open the spirit-locker began a carousal
which lasted some hours, to the accompaniment of music on Mancillo's
guitar. They took care, however, to relieve the two sentinels, and kept
themselves sober enough to shorten sail if it became necessary.

At daylight, after giving all their prisoners food, the mutineers held
a consultation as to their future proceedings, and at noon, in pursuance
of their design, they hoisted out the longboat, and placed in her a
couple of breakers of water, a bag of biscuit, and a few pieces of salt
meat.

Then Loftgreen and the second mate were liberated, and the former
taken below. Seated at the cabin table were Mancillo and three of his
fellow-ruffians.

As soon as the chief officer entered Mancillo rose, and drawing a loaded
pistol from his belt he pointed to a large sheet of paper lying on the
table, and ordered Loftgreen to make a rough chart showing the course
and distance to the nearest land, adding