the gleam of an oilskin upon whose wet surface the dim light played.

"He'll be up by the wheel," Mr Brymer whispered. "We must tackle him
there; and once get him down, we can beat back the others. I'll make
sure for you."

Just as he spoke all doubt was at an end, for we heard Jarette shout an
order to the men at the wheel; and then, before any plan could be made,
he trotted forward, swung himself down the steps on to the deck, as we
shrank back into the companion-way, and went forward.

"Bah! We've let our chance go," whispered Mr Frewen, and then we stood
fast, for Jarette stopped and turned to come back into the saloon.

"Delivered into our hands," I said to myself, as I drew a long breath,
for the great struggle was about to begin.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

The companion-way was so black that we were completely hidden, and I
heard Mr Frewen draw his breath with a soft hissing sound, as if he now
grasped the fact that a better chance was to be afforded to us of
mastering the leader of the mutineers, who came right to the shattered
entrance, and appeared to be about to enter, but stopped short listening
for a sound, but for a few seconds there was none. Then all at once in
a muffled way we heard Mr John Denning say a few words in an angry
impatient tone, for the wind had lulled for a few moments. Then there
came the low murmur of Miss Denning's voice, and directly after the
whistling of the wind again.

Jarette was not two yards from us, and if he had taken another step, I
had made up my mind to fling myself upon him and cling with all my might
to his legs, while the others seized him by the throat and arms. I say
this, for we compared notes afterwards.

It was not to be, for he came no farther; but apparently satisfied that
all was right, he turned sharply and went forward, and we could from
time to time make out his voice among the others as he gave orders to
the men.

"Another opportunity gone," said Mr Frewen. "We ought to have leaped
upon him."

"Better luck next time," said the mate. "He cannot stay forward long.
He is seaman enough to know that his place is at the wheel."

"Then at all costs we must have him when he returns."

"And what then?" said the mate. "You do not mean to kill him, I
suppose?"

"Oh no; of course not."

"Then I should place the door of one of the cabins wide open, and prop
it. Then as soon as we have mastered and disarmed him, bundle him
inside and keep him a