have thought the
scene grotesque; but the four men ranged at the foot of the table
speedily detected in the countenances of their self-constituted judges,
an expression of stern determination which caused their hearts to sink
and their cheeks to blanch with sudden fear.

A low-toned consultation now ensued between Rogers and those nearest
him, in which Talbot was summoned to take part. At its conclusion the
latter withdrew a little apart, and Rogers, turning to the captain,
said--

"Robert Arnold, yours is the first case. Who is the prosecutor?"

"I am," answered Talbot, "on behalf of the whole crew."

"Very good," acquiesced Rogers. "Benjamin Talbot, state y'ur case."

Upon this, Talbot stepped up to the cabin-table and said--

"On behalf of the whole crew of this here ship--the _Princess Royal_--I
charges Robert Arnold, late skipper of the same, with havin' treated all
hands before the mast in a most onjustifiable manner. As you're fully
aweer, shipmates, we was short-handed when we left London; and at
Plymouth the men-o'-war robbed us of four of our best hands, makin' us
more short-handed still. Very well. Now what's the dooty of a skipper
to his crew under such sarcumstances as this here? Why, I say his dooty
is to make things as easy as possible for 'em. Instead o' which this
here Robert Arnold, the prisoner as we're tryin', he goes and expects us
to do as much work, and to do it as smartly, as if the ship was fully
manned. And because we couldn't do it--as it stands to reason we
couldn't--he goes and makes _extra_ work for us by way of punishment; he
robs us of our a'ternoon watch below; he stops our grog; he tyrannises
over us in every imaginable way; he treats us like dogs and not like
men, abusin' and bullyin' us, and goin' out of his way to hurt our
feelin's; he refuses to listen to our just complaints; he encourages the
first and second mates to sarve out to us the same sort of treatment as
he gives us hisself, instead of takin' our part and treatin' us with
justice; and he does all this not once in a way only, but from the very
commencement of the v'yage. And, lastly, he orders a sick man to be
flogged; laughs at the poor chap's sufferin's; and refuses to sarve out
the necessaries to dress his wounds a'terwards. That, shipmates, is the
charge I brings against Robert Arnold."

"You hears the charge agin the prisoner, shipmates all?" observed
Rogers, glancing round the table. "Ben Talbot br