e--an' all this
you'll have to do with a ready goodwill, on pain o' havin' your brains
knocked out if you don't. Moreover, you may be thankful that the
sentence is so light, for some o' your comrades would have had you
hanged right off, if others hadn't seen fit to be marciful."

While this sentence was being pronounced, Swinton's expression underwent
various changes, and his face became visibly paler under the steady gaze
of Grummidge. At the last word he grasped his knife and drew it, but
his foe was prepared. Like a flash of light he planted his hard
knuckles between Swinton's eyes, and followed up the blow with another
on the chest, which felled him to the ground.

There was no need for more. The big bully was rendered insensible,
besides being effectually subdued, and from that time forward he quietly
consented to play any fiddle--chiefly, however, the bass one. But he
harboured in his heart a bitter hatred of Grummidge, and resolved
secretly to take a fearful revenge at the first favourable opportunity.

Soon after that the boat was manned by as many of the crew as it could
contain, and an exploring party went to the spot where Captain Trench
and his companions had been landed, guided thereto by Swinton, and led
by his foe Grummidge, whose bearing indicated, without swagger or
threat, that the braining part of the sentence would be carried out on
the slightest symptom of insubordination on the part of the former.
While this party was away; those who remained on the islet continued to
fish, and to preserve the fish for winter use by drying them in the sun.

We need scarcely add that the exploring party did not discover those for
whom they sought, but they discovered the true nature of the main
island, which, up to that time, they had supposed to be a group of
isles. When the search was finally given up as hopeless, an examination
of the coast was made, with a view to a change of abode.

"You see, lads," observed Grummidge, when discussing this subject, "it's
quite plain that we shall have to spend the winter here, an' as I was a
short bit to the south of these seas in the late autumn one voyage, I
have reason to believe that we had better house ourselves, an' lay in a
stock o' provisions if we would escape bein' froze an' starved."

"Troth, it's well to escape that, boys," remarked Squills, "for it's
froze I was mesilf wance--all but--on a voyage to the Baltic, an' it's
starved to death was me owld grand