before we could make
up our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing determinate,
except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions, when we should
attack them, by means of the apparition of Rogers. They were discussing
their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly was, that
they would unite with the crew of a schooner _Hornet_, and, if possible,
get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to some
attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be made out
by either of us.

One of the men spoke of Peters, when the mate replied to him in a low
voice which could not be distinguished, and afterward added more
loudly, that "he could not understand his being so much forward with the
captain's brat in the forecastle, and he thought the sooner both of them
were overboard the better." To this no answer was made, but we could
easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole party, and
more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively agitated,
the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters could
determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life as
dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any
feelings of trepidation.

The tremendous noise made by the roaring of the wind in the rigging, and
the washing of the sea over the deck, prevented us from hearing what was
said, except during momentary lulls. In one of these, we all distinctly
heard the mate tell one of the men to "go forward, have an eye upon
them, for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig." It was
well for us that the pitching of the vessel at this moment was so
violent as to prevent this order from being carried into instant
execution. The cook got up from his mattress to go for us, when a
tremendous lurch, which I thought would carry away the masts, threw him
headlong against one of the larboard stateroom doors, bursting it open,
and creating a good deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of
our party was thrown from his position, and we had time to make a
precipitate retreat to the forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of
action before the messenger made his appearance, or rather before he put
his head out of the companion-hatch, for he did not come on deck.
From this station he could not notice the absence of Allen, and he
accordingly bawled out, as if to him, repeating the orders of the
mate. Peters cried out, "Ay, ay,