Aggett. You and I have never had a tiff while we
have sailed together, and I do not want to have one now, so I'll say no
more about the matter."

This unsatisfactory answer evidently pained the captain, but he was too
weak to reply. He put out his hand.

"I wish you would listen to reason," he said. "The consequences may be
serious if you do not."

The first mate turned away, for he was not a man who liked to be at a
death-bed; it made him think of what might happen to himself.

The captain being anxious to know the exact position of the ship, the
second mate went into the main cabin to make his calculations.

Owen and the doctor remained with the captain. He did not rally, and
just before daybreak, as he himself believed would be the case, he
breathed his last.

The doctor, as was his duty, reported the event to the first mate.

"We shall see who is going to be captain now," exclaimed the
latter--"Mr Grey, that youngster, or I. From the way Captain Aggett
talked, one would have supposed that he fancied young Hartley was as
well able to take charge of the ship as a man who has been to sea all
his life. The youngster will soon find out his mistake."

Owen knew that Mr Scoones had now the power to treat him in any way he
might please--to confine him to his cabin, or even to put him in irons;
at all events, that his own position in the ship would be greatly
altered. Scarcely, indeed, had the captain's body been committed to its
ocean grave than Mr Scoones turned him out of the cabin and made him
take up his berth with the apprentices amidships. Owen bore his change
of circumstances without complaining. He considered that there would be
no use in expostulating with Mr Scoones; indeed, that by so doing he
might make matters worse.

The first mate, or rather the captain, for so he insisted on being
called, ordered him about as he did the other apprentices, and made him
perform the roughest style of work.

"You want to be a sailor, my lad, and I never knew one who did not dip
his hand in the tar bucket, and you will now have to put yours in very
often," he exclaimed. He then ordered Owen to black down some of the
rigging.

It was a seaman's duty, and Owen was ready to perform it. Mr Scoones,
seeing that he obeyed willingly, was resolved to try him yet further,
and ordered him aft to sweep out the cabin and to wait upon him at
table. The doctor, who was a kind man, on discovering this, advised
Owen to