Voules, like other men of mean spirit,
delighted in acting the tyrant; indeed, had he wished to create a
mutiny, he took the most effectual means of causing one. He had now
numberless opportunities which he could not have obtained on board the
frigate. He was constantly abusing the men during every operation they
were ordered to perform, though his chief displeasure fell on the heads
of Ben and Dick, who were instantly placed on the black list, when their
grog was stopped and they were compelled to walk the deck with a shot in
each hand during their watch below, or other punishments were inflicted.
Dick, as he had resolved, kept his temper and submitted without
complaint to this injustice; but Ben nourished a spirit of revenge, and
secretly formed a plan for wreaking his vengeance on the heads of his
persecutors. With this object in view, he found out who among the crew
were most dissatisfied and were likely to join him in his project. He
did not, however, venture to speak to Dick. He fully believed that he
should in time win him over. "He'll do something or other before long,
which will rouse even his spirit," he said to himself, and "then he'll
be more ready than any of us to do what I want."

Although the provisions in the cuddy were of good quality, and there was
a sufficient supply for ten times the number of the commander's limited
mess, those of the crew were scanty and of bad quality, and it seemed
surprising that Frenchmen should have consented to live upon such fare.

The steward told the men of the abundance which existed aft, but when
they complained through Mr Voules to Lord Reginald, they were told that
the provisions intended for the cabin could not be spared, and that they
must be content with what they had got. Neither did Dick nor any of his
officers dream of what was going forward.

The convoy was approaching its destination. The _Ione_ had rejoined the
day after the capture of the _Marie_, but no other event of general
importance had occurred. The fleet was now within two hundred miles of
the Straits of Sunda, when from the masthead of the _Marie_, which was
to leeward, a sail was seen to the southward.

She immediately communicated this by signal to the _Wolf_, and received
in return an order to chase the stranger and ascertain her character.
The other part of the signal was either not seen, or misunderstood by
Lucas. "Up with the helm!" cried Lord Reginald; "square away the yards!
If