until the alarm is given, and then those that
remain must rush out in a body. Simply knock them down with the hilts
of your swords. There is no occasion to shed blood, unless in the case
of armed resistance; but remember they will have their knives in their
girdles, and do not let anyone take you by surprise."

Opening the door, Francis walked along a passage, and then through an
outer door into the waist of the ship. The wind was blowing fiercely,
but the gale was not so violent as it had appeared to them when
confined below. The night was dark, but after a week's confinement
below, his eyes were able easily to make out almost every object on
deck. There were but few sailors in the waist. The officers would be on
the poop, and such of the crew as were not required on duty in the
forecastle. Man after man joined him, until some thirty were gathered
near the bulwarks. An officer on the poop caught sight of them by the
light of the lantern, which was suspended there as a signal to the
other vessels.

"What are all you men doing down there?" he challenged. "There is no
occasion for you to keep on deck until you are summoned."

"Do you move forward with the men here, Parucchi. Knock down the
fellows on deck, and rush into the forecastle and overpower them there,
before they can get up their arms. I will summon the rest in a body,
and we will overpower the officers."

He ran back to the cabin door, and bade the men follow him. As they
poured out there was a scuffle on the deck forward, and the officer
shouted out again:

"What is going on there? What does all this mean?"

Francis sprang up the ladder to the poop, followed by his men, and
before the officer standing there understood the meaning of this sudden
rush of men, or had time to draw his sword, he was knocked down. The
captain and three other officers, who were standing by the helm, drew
their swords and rushed forward, thinking there was a mutiny among
their crew; but Francis shouted out:

"Throw down your weapons, all of you. We have retaken the ship, and
resistance is useless, and will only cost you your lives."

The officers stood stupefied with astonishment; and then, seeing that
fully twenty armed men were opposed to them, they threw down their
swords. Francis ordered four of the sailors to conduct them to the
captain's cabin, and remain in guard over them; then with the rest he
hurried forward to assist Parucchi's party.

But the work was already do