teaus from the different cabins, so many
being available that they were used as so many bricks, and carefully
built up from floor to ceiling, but with openings left in through which
the defenders of the saloon could fire when the attack was made.

I worked eagerly with all the rest till the big entry was completely
filled up, Mr Frewen taking the lead, and lifting and packing in the
chests, till the solid wall was formed--one so well bonded together, as
a bricklayer would call it, that it seemed to me that it would require a
battering-ram to force a way through.

As I walked away, hurrying eagerly first into one cabin and then
another, in search of trunks and portmanteaus that would fit into the
various openings, I suddenly found myself face to face with Miss
Denning, whose pallid countenance lit-up on seeing me, and she held out
her hand to cling to mine.

"Oh, Mr Dale," she whispered half hysterically, "is there much danger?"

"Oh no, I hope not," I said, speaking in an encouraging way; but she
shook her head.

"Don't--don't speak to me like that," she cried. "I'm not a child. Be
frank with me, and tell me as if I were your sister. There is danger,
is there not?"

"Well, I'm afraid there'll be a fight," I said; "but we have plenty of
firearms, and we've got right on our side, and I hope we shall give the
scoundrels such a lesson that they will come down on their knees."

"I'm afraid not," she said. "But tell me, why is it? Is it what they
call a mutiny? I thought all such things were over now."

"So did I, Miss Denning," I said; "but that's what it is. I never
thought of it before, but I suppose we must have a very valuable cargo
on board."

"Yes, my brother said there was a large sum in specie."

"Money, that is, isn't it?" I said. "Well then, that's what has
tempted the scoundrels. But don't you be frightened. Mr Frewen and
the rest will take care that the blackguards don't get into the cabin,
and I'm going to try if I cannot fight too."

She pressed my hand and smiled sadly.

"Yes, I know you and your brother midshipman will be very brave and
fight for us," she said, with a quiet satisfied nod of the head, and I
winced as I thought about Walters; but she did not notice it, and went
on, "You had a very narrow escape, did you not?"

"Oh, I had to run and dodge about in the dark, and then came down a
rope," I replied; "but that was nothing much." And as I spoke I could
see that she was hard