ames and the
Medway.

It was at this time that Dyck Calhoun--who, by consent of Richard
Parker, had taken control of the Ariadne--took action which was to alter
the course of his own life and that of many others.

Since the beginning of the mutiny he had acted with decision, judgment,
and strength. He had agreed to the Ariadne joining the mutinous ships,
and he had skilfully constructed petitions to the Admiralty, the House
of Commons, and the King. His habit of thought, his knowledge of life,
made him a power. He believed that the main demands of the seamen were
just, and he made a useful organization to enforce them. It was only
when he saw the mutineers would not accept the terms granted to the
Spithead rebels that a new spirit influenced him.

He had determined to get control of the Ariadne. His gift as a speaker
had conquered his fellow-sailors, and the fact that he was an ex-convict
gave them confidence that he was no friend of the government.

One of the first things he did, after securing his own pre-eminence on
the ship, was to get the captain and officers safely ashore. This he did
with skill, and the crew of the ship even cheered them as they left.

None of the regular officers of the Ariadne were left upon her,
except Greenock, the master of the ship, whose rank was below that of
lieutenant, and whose duties were many and varied under the orders of
the captain. Greenock chose to stay, though Dyck said he could go if he
wished. Greenock's reply was that it was his duty to stay, if the ship
was going to remain at sea, for no one else could perform his duties or
do his work.

Then, by vote, Dyck became captain of the ship. He did not, however,
wear a captain's uniform--blue coat, with white cuffs, flat
gold buttons; with lace at the neck, a white-sleeved waistcoat,
knee-breeches, white silk stockings, and a three-cornered black hat
edged with gold lace and ornamented with a cockade; with a black cravat,
a straight dress sword, a powdered cue tied with a black-silk ribbon,
and epaulets of heavy gold stuff completing the equipment. Dyck, to the
end of his career at sea, wore only the common seaman's uniform.

Dyck would not have accepted the doubtful honour had he not had long
purposes in view. With Ferens, Michael Clones, and two others whom
Ferens could trust, a plan was arranged which Dyck explained to his
fellow-seamen on the Ariadne.

"We've come to the parting of the ways, brothers," he said. "We'v