, save two or three to keep an anchor-watch, not one of them,
in spite of all their grumbling at the hardship of having to stop on
deck previously, now stirred to go below. He also saw Moody and some of
the others, when the captain was not looking at them, stealthily shift
round the bows of the long-boat on to the top of the hatchway, in
addition to battening it down on the quiet, so that those who had gone
below could not easily get up again, and they would thus have things all
in their own hands.

Moody's gang evidently intended to carry out their nefarious plan; but
how was he to prevent it?

At last, while the mutineers were watching for their opportunity, he saw
his; and at once took advantage of it.

During the excitement that ensued when Mr McCarthy rushed on deck,
declaring that the vessel had bilged in to starboard--at which time
Captain Dinks at length gave his tardy order to launch the boats--
Snowball crept out of the galley; and making his way aft, entered the
saloon.

He was so frightened and confused, and full of what he had heard, that
he did not know what to do at first, and this had prevented his speaking
to the captain as he should have done; while, when he grew collected
again, there was Frank Harness shouting down the companion and Mr
McCarthy and the American passenger bolting up on to the poop, and no
one to speak to, that he could see, who could do any good. He called
out for the steward, but he had disappeared; and the darkey feared that
his plan for defeating the schemes of the mutineers would turn out
fruitless from his failing to find any one to help him in undertaking
it, when all at once he saw Kate Meldrum, for whom he had a profound
respect on account of her plucky behaviour during the storm and her
kindness to him when he was discovered as a stowaway and so injured in
the hold.

"Lor, missy," exclaimed he, "help me sabe ship and capting, and all; or
dey all go way and leab us drown on board!"

"Why, what do you mean?" said Kate, who was pale and excited, for she
could not help hearing Frank's call for assistance; and was just about
proceeding to ascend the companion ladder to see for herself what was
going on and if she could be of any aid, when Snowball thus ran against
her. "What is the matter on deck; and why do you come here?"

"Dat debbel Bill Moody, an' all him gang in port watch, say dey is goin'
murder capting and go way in long-boat, and leab us drown on board!"

"B