e door of the after-cabin, where the chart was
spread out, when, lifting up the belaying-pin, Captain Wilson told the
lieutenant that if he moved he was a dead man, and that the ship should
never go to Philadelphia; when the cook and steward, springing on him,
had in a moment the irons on his wrists and the gag in his mouth, and he
was pitched without ceremony into a cabin, and the door locked upon him.
The crew had next to be mastered. Three were walking the deck, another
was at the helm, and a fifth was on the look-out forward.

With truly wonderful nerve and command of voice, Captain Wilson called
the three men aft, and pointing to the hatchway of the store-room, near
the helm, told them that a coil of rope was wanted up. He then shoved
off the hatch, and as he showed them the corner where it was, they all
three jumped down. Quick as lightning he replaced the hatch, which his
followers secured, while he warned the man at the helm that his life
would pay the penalty if he moved or uttered a word. The look-out was
then called aft, and being seized, was asked if he would assist in
navigating the ship to a British port. On his declining to do so, he
was handcuffed and secured in a cabin. Captain Wilson then called the
watch, knowing well that they would not all come on deck together. He
was consequently able to secure two before the suspicions of the rest
were aroused. The third, however, drew his knife as the steward was
about to seize him, when the latter shot him in the shoulder with his
pistol, and he was seized. The remaining men, jumping on deck, were
knocked over and secured.

Once more Captain Wilson had entire command of his ship, but with a crew
of two men, neither of whom could even steer, nor were they accustomed
to go aloft; while he had fifteen prisoners below, who would naturally
lose no opportunity of retaking the ship. His greatest difficulties
were only now beginning. What consciousness of his superlative
seaman-like qualities, what perfect and just self-reliance he must have
possessed, to have undertaken the task of navigating a ship completely
across the Atlantic with such means at his disposal! Considerate and
generous, as well as brave, as soon as he had shaped a course for
England, he went below, and announced to Lieutenant Stone that the ship
was his own again; but offered to take the gag out of his mouth and the
irons off his wrists if he would consent to remain a prisoner in his
ber