Mr Denning's piece, followed directly after by a second shot, and the
rush of feet upon the deck.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

"Well!" said the captain grimly. "Did you bring down your gaol-bird,
sir?"

"No," replied Mr Denning, as he drew back and began to reload. "I
could not see any one, only that a bag of powder was being thrust along
the deck with a hand-spike, and I fired at where I thought a man might
be."

"And hit him, seemingly," said Mr Frewen. "Now then, we must down with
some of these trunks."

They were seized directly, and pulled away, so that had we liked we
could have opened the door widely; and Mr Denning now took up his
position here, while Mr Frewen and Mr Preddle stood ready each with
their guns, which had not yet been discharged, while I and Mr Brymer
were in charge of the two buckets of water.

There was now plenty of room for any one to look round the edge of the
door and make an observation; and though our position was a good deal
weakened, this was to some extent counterbalanced by the chests and
trunks being built across as a breastwork, behind which the guns were
stationed, Mr Brymer and I being between the breastwork and the door.

"Now, Dale, look out and see how matters stand," said the captain.

I peered cautiously round, and saw that the deck was blackened with
moist powder, and that two powder-bags lay in patches of wet, while all
round was rapidly drying up. There were the mutineers, standing in a
group, every man armed, though some only bad knives and hatchets. By
their side, as if in command, stood Walters, with two pistols in his
belt, looking like a pirate in a penny picture; and they were all
staring at the cabin-door; but I looked in vain for the leader of the
mutiny.

I drew back and reported what I could see, and Mr Frewen whispered--

"Could you reach the powder-bags with a walking-stick? I mean one with
a hook."

"No; but I could easily run out and pick them up."

"No; never mind," said the captain; "the water would run up through them
like in salt or sugar. There's no danger from them. Look out again."

I peered out, and felt quite ready to laugh in spite of our perilous
condition, for I could not help thinking what a conceited fool Walters
looked. He seemed to me like a big school-boy playing at being a
buccaneer; and the feeling was strong upon me that I should like to go
out and punch his head till it was soft enough for some common-sense to
get in.