. "The crew have mutinied and the captain has
been stabbed. I'm trying to get hold of the murderer; but they're too
many for me. Help, Mr Lathrope, help!"

"You will have it then, you young devil!" screamed out Moody savagely,
making a plunge at Frank with the formidable knife that he had now
drawn, which had a much longer blade than that with which he had
stricken down the captain. "I'll soon stop your cursed yelling, my
joker, and give you something better to cry for!"

"I guess not, sez Con," drawled out the American, the crack of his six-
shooter echoing through the air at the same time that the knife fell to
the deck from the miscreant's hand, which had been neatly perforated by
a bullet. The instant he raised it above his head to strike Frank, Mr
Lathrope catching sight of it, had "drawn a bead on it," as he would
have expressed it, without delay. "No, sirree, I guess not, as long as
old Zach hain't forgot to handle the shootin'-irons!" he continued. "I
fancy, mister, I've spiled your murdering little game; an' now we'll go
in for a rough and tumble, I opine!"

So saying, the American, not shooting again for fear of wounding Frank,
was down on the main-deck in a jiffey and by the side of the brave young
sailor who was tackling the mutineers so gallantly--Mr Meldrum also
joining in the struggle, first laying down the now nearly lifeless body
of the captain again on the deck, however, and drawing off his coat to
place it under his head so as to raise it up. The trio were shortly
afterwards reinforced by the arrival of Mr McCarthy, panting and out of
breath, with the side of his monkey-jacket half torn off by Major Negus,
who had caught hold of it in trying to prevent his rushing up the
companion ladder on hearing Frank's cry for help, the good lady
imploring him not to leave her to be murdered!

The first mate's brawny fists, hitting out right and left, did yeoman's
service in the melee that ensued, and so did Mr Lathrope, while Frank
and Mr Meldrum also fought well; but the four were powerless against
Moody's gang, who numbered a round dozen and had, by battening down the
main-hatch, prevented the loyal portion of the crew from coming to their
assistance--when, of course, the tables would have been turned.

Fortunately, there was no knife used in the fray, beyond the one which
Moody had so unceremoniously dropped, and thus further bloodshed was
prevented; but some hard knocks were given and received, an