ibuted wine, jellies, and many
another dainty from his own mess to comfort and sustain the sick.

Jack spliced the main-brace sometimes too. One Saturday evening he
returned from a very daring and extra-well-carried-out brush with the
enemy's river craft, in which his gallant fellows had cut out a barque
from the very harbour's mouth, without the loss of a man. As soon as he
had refreshed himself somewhat with a bath and change of clothes, he
visited young Murray, whom he found doing well, and hopeful now that he
would live to see his little sweetheart once again. Then he saw the sick
men, after which he gave orders to splice the main-brace.

Walking forward some hours after this, you might have heard such songs
as "Tom Bowling" rolled up from near the forecastle, or Dibdin's
"Saturday Night at Sea."

"'Twas Saturday night: the twinkling stars
Shone on the rippling sea;
No duty called the jovial tars,
The helm was lashed a-lee.
The ample can adorned the board:
Prepared to see it out,
Each gave the lass that he adored,
And pushed the can about."

Jack on this particular evening had M'Hearty and Tom Fairlie to dine
with him, and they were still lingering over dessert, when the steward
informed the captain that Jones the boatswain desired to speak to him.

It was an odd request at such a time, but Jones was immediately
admitted. His face was very serious indeed. He glanced uneasily at the
servants, and interpreting the look to mean that he wished privacy,
Captain Mackenzie ordered them to retire.

If Jones was serious, Jack was much more so when he made his statement,
which he did in straightforward British sailor's English.

CHAPTER XVI.

JACK AND THE MUTINEERS.

"Obedience every work combines,
Diffuses to each part
That ardour which the mind refines,
Expands and mends the heart."
DIBDIN.

"It's been a-going on for some little len'th o' time, your honour," said
Jones. "Me and my messmates took little heed o't for a time, thinkin' it
were only Scrivings' bombast, 'cause ye see, sir, he's only a blessed
mouth of a fellow arter all."

"Ha!" interrupted M'Hearty, "that fellow is one of your pressed men,
isn't he?"

"Yes," said Jack; "the ringleader of the smugglers, and a bold, bad
man."

"That's he to a T," said Jones. "Well, they're all in it, the twenty o'
them. I'm no sneak, and I'm no spy, b