gig. The longboat is already pretty well
crowded, considering that part of her complement consists of women and
children. You will find that the gig already has four breakers of fresh
water in her, which will serve for ballast, but you will have to
provision her from the longboat, as Bainbridge absolutely refuses to
give us so much as another biscuit. You will find Mr Johnson already
in her. Just jump down and lend him a hand, if you please."

The gig, with her mast already stepped, was lying outside the longboat,
with Mr Johnson in her, while Chips, in the longboat, was overhauling
the stock of provisions in the latter and passing a certain portion into
the gig according to the second mate's instructions. It was a bit of a
job to get to her across the crowded longboat, but I had just stepped
into her and was about to address Johnson when I stopped short, for I
heard Captain Roberts's voice raised in a final appeal to the men.

"My lads," he said in a loud, clear voice, "before I quit the ship I
want to give you a last chance to undo the evil that you have this day
done, and to avert from yourselves the punishment that most surely
awaits you if you persist in following the path into which you have been
beguiled by a plausible young scoundrel--"

"Meaning me, eh, Skipper?" jeered Bainbridge, with a harsh laugh, from
the poop above.

"Even now, men," continued the captain, ignoring Bainbridge's
interruption, "at this last moment, it is not too late for you to
withdraw from your unholy compact and return to your duty. You are not
to blame for what has happened; you have simply been deceived and led
astray by one who ought to have known better than to tempt you to a step
which can only end in your destruction. I ask you to lay down those
arms and place yourselves at my mercy; and I promise you, upon my honour
as a seaman and a gentleman, that if you will do so not one of you
except your ringleader shall ever hear another word about the matter--"

"Stop! Shut up! Not another word, as you value your life!" yelled
Bainbridge, suddenly flying into a fury and whipping a revolver out of
his belt. "So that is your little game, is it? You would bribe those
men to betray me, to put me into your power! Very well! Now you jump
down into that longboat at once; and if you dare to open your mouth
again and speak another word of temptation to the men, I'll blow your
head off," and he wound up with an oath.

But Captain