" observed Stephen, pointing to the chart.

"Ho, ho, young man, you fancy that you understand navigation better than
I do," said the mate. "Just keep your remarks to yourself till I
request you to make them."

Stephen could say no more, but he and Roger agreed, when the first mate
went below, they would try to get the second to alter the ship's course.
The first mate seemed to suspect their intentions, for he remained on
deck, and when the wind drew more from the east which it did shortly
after noon, kept the ship away to the south-east.

"The fellow will be running us on shore, or we shall be falling in with
some Sallee rovers, for we cannot be far off their coast by this time,"
said Stephen. "I think we had better have a talk with Sam Stokes, and
hear his opinion."

Sam, although no navigator, was perfectly inclined to agree with them.

"If the Captain was himself, we might get orders to put you under
arrest, for it might be a serious affair if we did so and fell in with a
man-of-war; we should be accused of mutiny and intending to turn
pirates," observed Sam.

Roger, however, was strongly of opinion that they ought to make the mate
again tack to the northward. They again spoke to him on the subject,
and warned him of the danger he was running. He laughed scornfully, and
again told them to mind their own business, asserting that they had
nothing whatever to do with the navigation of the ship. On this they
applied to the second mate and boatswain, and did their best to alarm
them. They were still speaking on the subject, and had some hope of
success, when the first mate came up and inquired what they were talking
about.

"This is mutiny, downright mutiny!" he exclaimed, and without more ado
he ordered the second mate and boatswain to lash their arms behind them
and carry them into the cabin.

"I do not wish to be hard with you, but I will not have my authority
disputed, and you youngsters will remain there till I can prove to you
that I am right and you are wrong."

Though they protested loudly at this treatment, the mate would not
listen to them; they had therefore to submit. In the evening Jumbo
brought supper to them, but he said that he was ordered not to hold any
conversation, but to come away again as soon as he had placed the supper
before them.

"But how is the ship going; what course is she steering?" asked Stephen.

"Bery well as far as me make out," answered Jumbo. "Sometimes steer
east