what's brought me to
you now."

Dyck smiled. "I know that. I've had my eye on the midshipmen. I've never
trusted them. They're a hard lot; but if the rest of the ship is with
me, I'll deal with them promptly. They're not clever or bold enough
to do their job skilfully. They've got some old hands down
there--hammock-men, old stagers of the sea that act as servants to them.
What line do they take?"

Michael laughed softly.

"What I know I've got from two of them, and it is this--the young
gentlemen'll try to get control of the ship."

The cynicism deepened in Dyck's face.

"Get control of the ship, eh? Well, it'll be a new situation on a king's
ship if midshipmen succeed where the rest dare not try. Now, mark what
I'm going to do."

He called, and a marine showed himself.

"The captain's compliments to the master, and his presence here at once.
Michael," he continued presently, "what fools they are! They're scarcely
a baker's dozen, and none of them has skill to lead. Why, the humblest
sailor would have more sense than to start a revolt, the success of
which depends upon his personal influence, and the failure of which
must end in his own ruin. Does any one think they're the kind to lead a
mutiny within a mutiny? Listen to me I'm not cruel, but I'll put an end
to this plot. We're seven hundred on this ship, and she's a first-class
sailer. I warrant no ship ever swam the seas that looks better going
than she does. So we've got to see that her, record is kept clean as a
mutineer."

At that moment the master appeared. He saluted. "Greenock," said
Dyck, "I wonder if you've noticed the wind blowing chilly from the
midshipmen's berth." A lurking devilish humour shot from Greenock's
eyes.

"Aye, I've smelled that wind."

"Greenock, we're near the West Indian Islands. Before we eat many meals
we'll see land. We may pass French ships, and we may have to fight.
Well, we've had a good running, master; so I'll tell you what I mean to
do."

He then briefly repeated what he had said to Michael, and added

"Greenock, in this last to-do, I shall be the only man in danger. The
king's amnesty covers every one except the leaders--that lets you off.
The Delegate of the Ariadne is aboard the Invincible, if he's not been
hanged. I'm the only one left on the Ariadne. I've had a good time,
Greenock--thanks to you, chiefly. I think the men are ready for anything
that'll come; but I also think we should guard against a revolt of