e mate
go aft and then into the captain's cabin.

"Promptly the soldiers were ordered up, but when the convicts on deck
found their plot discovered they did not yield without a struggle. It
was a short but a violent one, for in the confusion they got hold of
some fire arms and fought desperately. The captain was twice wounded,
and it was then that the old watch you see there had its share in saving
his life. For the bullet, striking against the case and passing through
it, was thus lessened in force, and did not reach a vital part of the
body. It was, nevertheless, a serious hurt, and caused him much
suffering, for it was some days before the bit of metal could be
extracted from the wound.

"Meanwhile the convicts, being overpowered, were secured under hatches
again, and the captain then made Birt point out the ringleaders and the
most desperate of the men, which he did to the number of thirteen.
These were placed in irons for the rest of the voyage, and when the
vessel arrived at Port Jackson it was supposed they would have been
hanged. But the governor declaring that it was not in his power to do
so, they were registered to be kept in irons, chained two and two
together, all their lives long.

"And thus this wicked plot was found out, and those wicked men punished,
and thus it pleased Heaven to preserve your great-grandfather's life--
first by reason of the gratitude and devotion of Mr Birt, and secondly
through his stout old watch which did him good service and turned aside
the enemy's bullet."

Aunt Hannah paused, and looked up at the picture again.

"But," said Susan, "what became of Mr Birt?"

"He was pardoned," replied my aunt, "on the representation of my
father--because of the service he had rendered in saving the ship and
crew at the risk of his own life."

"I'm glad of that," said Sophia Jane; "because it was so very good of
him to tumble down the hatchway."

"He never returned to England," continued Aunt Hannah, "but settled in
China, where I believe he prospered and became at last a rich man. My
father often heard from him and always spoke of him with affection."

"That's a very nice story, indeed," said Susan. "I'm sorry it's over."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The account of the convicts' mutiny is taken from the Unpublished diary
of Captain John Marshall, In command of the ship _Scarborough_ at the
time.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

SHRIMPS AN