more. There, boy, you'll have to try and fight with the rest of
us."

"I'll try, sir," I said, and I looked at him wonderingly, for I had been
under the impression that he was unwell in the cabin; I had forgotten
the fact that he too had been on deck and received several severe
injuries when the mutineers made their attack.

"Oh, look here, Dale," he said suddenly, "while I think of it, my lad.
I went on deck last night to have a look round at the weather, and when
I came back I found that my cabin-door was fastened up. Was that your
doing?"

"No, sir," I replied. "Certainly not."

"That's right," he said, looking at me searchingly. "I went back on
deck to make some inquiries, and when I reached the men's quarters, I
was attacked. But I should like to clear that matter up. The steward
swears it was not his doing; it would not have been one of the crew.
Where is your messmate, Walters?"

I shook my head.

"Not hurt?" he cried, anxiously.

"No, sir. Not that I know of. Last time I saw him he was quite well."

"Where is he?"

There was a dead silence for a few moments, and then Mr Brymer spoke--

"Poor Walters is not with us, sir."

"What?" cried Captain Berriman. "Poor lad! Poor lad!" Then after a
pause, "He is a prisoner then?"

"Yes, sir, we suppose so," replied Mr Brymer, and I heard the captain
groan, while a hot feeling of indignation rose in my breast.

"Poor Walters!" and all that pity and sympathy for the ill-conditioned
cowardly young wretch. I felt that I must speak out and tell all that I
knew, but somehow I could not; and to this day I have never been able to
settle in my own mind whether I was right or wrong.

"Well," said the captain at last, "we have no time to waste upon
sympathy. I am sorry to say, gentlemen, that I fear I can do little in
this terrible emergency. You have decided to defend yourselves, and,
God helping us we may get back our positions in the ship, but it can
only be by making a stout defence, and waiting for an opportunity to
surprise the scoundrels at some weak moment, say when they have been for
a long time at the spirits on board."

"To be sure," said Mr Frewen. "There is no cause for despair with such
a formidable arrangement. The scoundrels dare not attack us."

"Well," said Captain Berriman, slowly, "I have brought out all the arms,
but I have a painful announcement to make. The traitor who came round
to secure us in our cabins had carried off al