ve thought that the utmost extent of the mutineers' complaint against
him would be that he had not interfered in their behalf. When therefore
he heard the charge against him, and realised the fact that he was
wholly in their power, and utterly at their mercy, his courage--which at
the best of times was only of a very flimsy and unreliable character--
utterly gave way; he involuntarily turned his eyes for a moment upon the
miserable second mate; recalled the fact that the wretched man had been
doomed to a speedy and degrading death by the same individuals who were
now sitting in judgment upon him; and a shameful panic took possession
of him. An uncontrollable shivering fit seized his frame, he was
obliged to clench his teeth together, to prevent them from chattering
audibly; he glanced wildly round him as if seeking for some means of
escape; and, after two or three ineffectual efforts to speak, he managed
to gasp out brokenly through his clenched teeth and quivering lips--

"I--I--I give you--my--my sacred word of honour, gen-gentlemen, that I
was o-only in--jest. I nev-never believed for a--a moment that
Cap-t-tain Arnold would t-take my remark seriously, or I as-sure you I
would n-n-ever have uttered it. And besides, I re-real-ly believed that
your--friend R-R-udd was--was only sh-h--er--ah--I beg your pardon
gentlemen, I sc-scarcely know what I am saying, but--oh, gentlemen I
don't be hard upon me--have mercy upon me, for God's sake! Spare my
life, and you may do with me what you will."

He ceased, from sheer physical inability to utter another word, and,
sinking upon his knees, stretched forth his quaking hands in a mute
appeal for mercy.

This disgraceful exhibition of cowardice was _almost_ successful in
winning for Walford an ignominious release. The mutineers were so
unutterably disgusted that, for a moment, their impulse was to kick him
out of the cabin like a craven hound and henceforward ignore his
existence. But this impulse lasted only for a moment; they recalled to
mind the insolent arrogance with which this same cowering creature had
treated them when he deemed himself secure from retaliation; and they
determined that, while his miserable life was not worth the taking, he
should still receive so salutary a lesson as should effectually deter
him from any repetition of the offence for the remainder of his life.

"Well, shipmates," exclaimed Rogers, breaking the painful silence which
had followed Wa