ittle island off the
eastern seaboard of Newfoundland. At first, when the discovery was made
that the captain, Paul, and Oliver had been put ashore and left to take
care of themselves without weapons or supplies, there was a disposition
on the part of the better men of the crew to apply what we now style
Lynch law to Big Swinton, David Garnet, and Fred Taylor. "Let's hang
'em," suggested Grummidge, at a meeting of the men when the culprits
were not present. "Sure an' I'll howld the rope wid pleasure," said
Squill. "An' I'll help ye," cried Little Stubbs.

But Jim Heron shook his head, and did not quite see his way to that,
while George Blazer protested against such violent proceedings
altogether. As he was backed up by the majority of the crew, the
proposal was negatived.

"But what are we to do, boys?" cried Grummidge vehemently. "Are we
goin' to be domineered over by Swinton? Why, every man he takes a
dislike to, he'll sneak into his tent when he's asleep, make him fast,
heave him into the boat, pull to the big island, land him there, and bid
him good-bye. There won't be one of us safe while he prowls about an'
gits help from three or four rascals as bad as himself."

"Ay, that's it, boys," said Little Stubbs; "it won't be safe to trust
him. Hang him, say I."

Stubbs was a very emphatic little man, but his emphasis only roused the
idea of drollery in the minds of those whom he addressed, and rather
influenced them towards leniency.

"No, no," cried the first mate of the _Water Wagtail_ who, since the
wreck, had seldom ventured to raise his voice in council; "I would
advise rather that we should give him a thrashing, and teach him that we
refuse to obey or recognise a self-constituted commander."

"Ah, sure now, that's a raisonable plan," said Squill with something of
sarcasm in his tone; "an' if I might make so bowld I'd suggist that
yoursilf, sor, shud give him the thrashin'."

"Nay, I am far from being the strongest man of the crew. The one that
is best able should do the job."

The mate looked pointedly at Grummidge as he spoke; but Grummidge, being
a modest man, pretended not to see him.

"Yes, yes, you're right, sir, Grummidge is the very man," cried Stubbs.

"Hear, hear," chorused several of the others. "Come, old boy, you'll do
it, won't you? and we'll all promise to back you up."

"Well, look 'ee here, lads," said Grummidge, who seemed to have suddenly
made up his mind, "this man has bi