slowly, "if blood is to be shed, and by none of our
seeking, it is our duty to see that it is the blood of the villains who
have turned upon us and set the law at defiance. Do you see that,
Dale?"

"Yes," I said, "I see that, and of course we cannot be expected to be
merciful to them who would blow us up with gunpowder. Why, they
wouldn't have cared if the ladies had been injured as well as the men."

"You are quite right."

"But you did not shoot Jarette this morning, sir," I said, and I believe
that my eyes twinkled mischievously at being able to confute him.

"No, Dale," he said, "I couldn't. Doctors have spent all their time
learning how to save life, and it would have been such a cold-blooded
act."

"But if you had shot him, sir, the mutiny would have been at an end."

"Unless your messmate, Walters, had constituted himself captain, and
carried on the war."

"He!" I cried contemptuously. "Why, I'd go and fetch him out by one
ear the same as a dog or a pig out of a drove. I believe, sir, that he
is a regular coward and sneak."

"Ah, well, we shall see," replied Mr Frewen, "but I suppose that I
really ought to have shot down that ruffian, broken one of his legs say,
and then spent six months in curing him ready for a judge and jury to
punish."

"But look here, Mr Frewen," I said, "isn't it all a mad and stupid
thing for that man to do?"

"Worse than mad, my boy, for what can they do if they keep us down, and
carry this vessel into port, which I doubt their ability to do?"

"Oh, they can do that," I said quickly. "Bob Hampton is such a capital
sailor."

"A capital scoundrel," he cried hotly, "and if I have a chance I'll
pitch him overboard."

"No, you won't, Mr Frewen," I said, laughing; "I don't believe that."

"Well, Dale, I'm afraid that if I did, I should want a boat lowered down
to pick him up, and go in it myself. There, as you say, it is a mad
thing for the men to have done. It shows how a whole party can be
carried away by the specious arguments of one scoundrel. However, we
know our duty, my lad; and that is to re-take the ship, place the worst
of the men in irons, and make the others navigate the vessel, unless you
advocate our hanging the worst of them instead of putting them in
irons."

"There are no irons on board a ship like this," I said quietly.

"Ah, and there is plenty of rope, my lad; so you advocate hanging?"

"Don't make a joke of it all, Mr Frewen," I said, for I