ng been picked up in various ports, from time to
time, as the brig had wanted hands, they were of nearly as many
different nations as they were persons. Spike had obtained a great
ascendency over them by habit and authority, and his suggestions were
now received as a sort of law. As soon as the conference was ended,
the captain returned to the helm.

A minute more passed, during which the captain was anxiously surveying
the reef ahead, and the state of things astern. Ahead was more white
water--the last before they should get clear of the reef; and astern
it was now settled that the cutter that held on through the dangers of
the place, was in chase of the yawl. That Mulford was in her Spike
made no doubt; and the thought embittered even his present calamities.
But the moment had arrived for something decided. The white water
ahead was much more formidable than any they had passed; and the
boldest seaman there gazed at it with dread. Spike made a sign to the
boatswain, and commenced the execution of his dire project.

"I say, you Josh," called out the captain, in the authoritative tones
that are so familiar to all on board a ship, "pull in that fender that
is dragging alongside."

Josh leaned over the gunwale, and reported that there was no fender
out. A malediction followed, also so familiar to those acquainted with
ships, and the black was told to look again. This time, as had been
expected, the negro leaned with his head and body far over the side of
the yawl, to look for that which had no existence, when two of the men
beneath the thwart shoved _his_ legs after them. Josh screamed, as he
found himself going into the water, with a sort of confused
consciousness of the truth; and Spike called out to Simon to "catch
hold of his brother-nigger." The cook bent forward to obey, when a
similar assault on _his_ legs from beneath the thwart, sent him
headlong after Josh. One of the younger seamen, who was not in the
secret, sprang up to rescue Simon, who grasped his extended hand, when
the too generous fellow was pitched headlong from the boat.

All this occurred in less than ten seconds of time, and so
unexpectedly and naturally, that not a soul beyond those who were in
the secret, had the least suspicion it was any thing but an accident.
Some water was shipped, of necessity, but the boat was soon bailed
free. As for the victims of this vile conspiracy, they disappeared
amid the troubled waters of the reef, struggling wi