d to accede to it
with indignation; and I did not suppose that Captain Gregory would make
the attempt, or I should have informed you at once," answered Saint
Julien.

"He does intend to make it, though," said Captain Waring, "and I depend
on you and your officers to prevent your men from joining him."

"I fear that we shall have lost our influence over our men, but we will
stand by you should there be any outbreak," said the French captain.

"I will trust you," observed Captain Waring. "Go and speak to your
officers while I take the steps necessary for our preservation."

Captain Waring on this left the cabin, and going on deck, spoke to the
first lieutenant and the midshipmen of the watch, who very speedily
communicated the orders they had received to the other officers.

The lieutenant of marines quickly turned out his men, while the
boatswain roused up the most trustworthy of the seamen. So quickly and
silently all was done, that a strong body of officers and men well armed
were collected on the quarter-deck before any of the prisoners were
aware of what was going forward. They were awaiting the captain's
orders, when a loud report was heard. A thick volume of smoke ascended
from below, and the next instant, with loud cries and shouts, a number
of the prisoners were seen springing up the hatchway ladders.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE FRIGATE BLOWN UP.

The Americans had been joined by a number of the Frenchmen, and some few
of the worst characters of the English crew--the jail-birds chiefly, who
had been won over with the idea that they would sail away to some
beautiful island, of which they might take possession; and live in
independence, or else rove over the ocean with freedom from all
discipline.

They had armed themselves with billets of wood and handspikes; and some
had got hold of knives and axes, which they had secreted. They rushed
on deck expecting quickly to overpower the watch.

Great was their dismay to find themselves encountered by a strong body
of armed men, who seized them, or knocked them down directly they
appeared.

So quickly were the first overpowered that they had no time to give the
alarm to their confederates below, and thus, as fresh numbers came up,
they were treated like the first. In a couple of minutes the whole of
the mutineers were overpowered.

The Frenchmen who had not actually joined them cried out for mercy,
declaring that they had no intention of doing so.

What