l him at daybreak; and shortly afterwards the mate retired, having
previously looked round the deck and spoken the watch. A few minutes
after, Elliot and his comrades appeared on deck, with their boots and
small bundles in their hands.

"Is all right?" whispered Elliot.

"All right!" replied one of the watch.

Nothing more was said; the boat was hauled softly alongside, and held
firmly there while two men descended and muffled the oars; then one by
one the men slid down the side, and a bag of biscuit and a junk of beef
were lowered into it by the second mate, who was one of the
conspirators.

At that moment the first mate came on deck, and went forward to inquire
what was wrong.

"It's something in the boat, sir," replied the second mate.

The mate looked over the side, and the sailors felt that they must be
discovered, and that their plans were about to be frustrated. But the
second mate was a man of decision. He suddenly seized Williams round
the neck, and, covering his mouth with his hand, held him as if in a
vice until he was secured and gagged.

"Shall we leave him!" whisperingly inquired one of the men.

"No, he'd manage to kick up a row; take him with us."

The helpless mate was immediately passed over the side, the rope was
cast off; and the boat floated softly away. At first, the oars were
dipped so lightly that no sound was heard, even by those on board,
except the drops of brine that trickled from the blades as they rose
from the water; then, as the distance increased, the strokes were given
more vigorously, and, at last, the men bent to it "with a will;" and
they were soon shooting over the vast bay in the direction of the
Sacramento river, up which they meant to proceed to the "diggings."

With the exception of O'Neil and Jones, who had already reached the
diggings in their dreams, the whole crew, sixteen in all, levanted,
leaving Captain Bunting to navigate the ship back to Old England as he
best might.

It is easier to conceive than to describe the feelings of the captain,
when, on the following morning, he discovered that his crew had fled.
He stamped, and danced, and tugged his hair, and pursed up his lips so
tight that nothing but an occasional splutter escaped them! Then he sat
down on the cabin skylight, looked steadily at Ned, who came hurriedly
on deck in his shirt and drawers to see what was wrong, and burst into a
prolonged fit of laughter.

"Hallo, captain! what's up!"

"No