h you can show has been done you."

"Spare your breath, skipper," answered Williams quietly. "We haven't
done this thing in a hurry, and we're not to be talked out of it in a
moment; and perhaps the sooner you understand that the better. No, sir;
we've no fault to find with you or anybody else aboard here. The fault
lies with them who've robbed, and cheated, and ground down the likes of
us for centuries; and the time has now come when the few of us as
belongs to this ship's fo'c's'le intend to help our selves to what we've
as good a right as anybody to have. As to punishment, why, we've agreed
to take our chances about that; and as to men-o'-war, how many have we
fell in with, so far, this voyage? We'll take our chances about them
too. Josh Williams may be no scholar, cap'n, but he knows a thing or
two--he knows enough to be able to take care of his own neck, and of the
necks of them that trust him too."

"My good fellow, you don't in the least know what you are talking
about!" exclaimed Captain Blyth.

"Enough said, sir--enough!" interrupted Williams. "All the talking in
the world won't undo what's done. We've put our heads into the noose,
but we're not fools enough to sway away upon the yard-rope; so you may
spare yourself the trouble of further talk, and us the trouble of
listening to you. Now the present time is as good as any to tell you
what our plans are so far as you are concerned; so please pay attention.
We're all hands averse to bloodshed, and we intend to work our business
without it, if possible--you understand, _if possible_!--so, instead of
cutting your throats and heaving you overboard, we're going to land
_you_, Captain Blyth, on some island or another where you'll be able to
pick up a living, but from which you won't be likely to get away until
long after we've done with the ship. Young Manners there we shall clap
ashore on some other island four or five hundred miles away from you,
skipper; and the passengers we shall put ashore somewhere else, where
they'll not be likely to get us into trouble or to send trouble after
us. As for Ned, here, we intend to keep him with us to navigate the
ship."

"Do you?" ejaculated Ned. "Then understand at once and for all that I
decline to remain with you. What! do you suppose I will mix myself up
in any way or associate with a pack of rascally mutineers? I'll see you
all hanged first!"

"Well crowed!" ejaculated Williams approvingly with a hearty l