er to launch the boats.
This was, now, a very difficult task, for the water was boiling in
eddies round the ship to leeward even on her sheltered side, although a
couple of hours before it had been as calm there as a mill-pond, so that
a Thames outrigger might have been floated off in safety.

As soon as the men heard the tardy word of command, there was a tussle
and a rush towards the long-boat, seeing which Captain Dinks, who was
standing just over the break of the poop, ran down the ladder-way and
stood amongst the excited group, with his arm uplifted to enforce his
orders.

"Avast there!" cried he; "get away from that long-boat, and prepare to
run in the jolly-boat. I want that launched first for the ladies and
passengers, and I must see them all safely out of the ship before a man
Jack amongst you leaves her! Go down, McCarthy," he added to the first
mate, "and ask the ladies to come on deck, sharp; we'll have the boat
prepared by the time you come up with them."

The crew still hustled round the long-boat, however, and showed signs of
insubordination, whilst a voice called out, "Let the passengers be! I
say every man for himself now!"

"What is that I hear?" exclaimed the captain. "Are you men--are you
British seamen--to abandon women and children in time of peril and seek
your own safety?"

"My life's as good as anyone else's, passenger or no passenger," cried
out Bill Moody defiantly, pressing closer to Captain Dinks.

"Ah!" ejaculated the latter, "I thought it was you--what! you haven't
learnt your lesson yet, eh?" and he made a grab at the man's neck as if
to grasp it.

But, Bill Moody was prepared this time. The captain did not catch him
unawares, as he had done on the previous occasion when he had knocked
him down with the butt-end of his pistol.

Raising a sheath-knife, which he must have had ready drawn for the
purpose in his hand, the man plunged it with all his force into the
breast of the captain as he approached him.

Captain Dinks was borne back and half turned round by the strength with
which the blow was delivered. Then, staggering first on to his knees,
and exclaiming, "Murder! I'm a dead man! The villain has stabbed me!"
he fell forwards on the deck in a pool of blood.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

DESERTED!

There was a cry of consternation from the men on seeing the captain
fall, for, although the majority of them evidently supported Moody in
the rush for the boats, none had dr