nced over them
contemptuously.

"All bunkum and wind," said he, pitching them into a corner. "We have
heard this sort of thing before."

"If it is true, sir," I ventured to say, "that the ships at the Nore
have mutinied, we had better give them a wide berth, for it's a catching
thing."

"Pooh! there's no more in it than the cat and a noose or two at the
yard-arms can cure," said he. "However, keep your eyes open, Mr
Gallagher, and report the first sign of mutiny. There's nothing like
nipping it in the bud."

For all the lieutenant's assumed indifference, further consultation with
the captain and the other officers resulted in some needful precautions
being taken. The watches were increased, the ammunition was placed
under extra guard, and picked men were told off to man the helm. As the
south-easterly breeze was rising, too, orders were given to weigh anchor
at once and put to sea.

The men obeyed the orders to set sail in a sullen, mechanical way, which
did not grow more hearty as they saw that every officer carried his
pistol in his belt, and watched the execution of every command with
suspicious keenness.

It was only when the order to turn in gave them the opportunity of
congregating in larger numbers and discussing the proclamation that they
took heart, and arrived at something like a united policy. Had I had my
own way that night, convinced as I was of the inevitable outcome of
delay, I would have clapped down the hatches and left them there to
deliberate till doomsday, or such time as they chose to beg for release
on the captain's terms. As it was, there was nothing to do but to
speculate moodily on what the morrow would bring forth, and meanwhile
make what use we could of the favouring breeze to put as many leagues as
possible between ourselves and the treasonable neighbourhood of the
Nore.

The worst of it was that the honest grievances of the seamen were so
patent, and the injustice they suffered at the hands of officers like
Lieutenant Adrian so flagrant, that had they been fairly stated and
fairly met nothing but good could have come of it. But put forward as
they were likely to be by a crew like ours, and encouraged and fomented
by agitators such as those who had drawn up the proclamation, what issue
was probable but one of desperate struggle and probably bloodshed?

It was plainly seen, when hands were piped next morning, that the temper
of the men had changed for the worse. As they str