mined their pistols, which they put
in their pockets. They then declared themselves ready to obey the
second mate's orders. I therefore went to report this to him. I found
that he had collected a quantity of small rope, as also some of the arms
which the captain had so injudiciously distributed to the crew. I asked
him for what purpose he had got the rope.

"To steal a march on the mutineers, to seize their ringleaders, and to
lash them down in their berths," he answered. His plan was generally
approved of. We had now altogether twelve or fourteen persons prepared
for the expected emergency. It wag important to communicate with
Spratt, to collect the men forward who could be trusted. I volunteered
immediately to do this. I knew that there was considerable risk, for I
had already had an example of the way Cobb and his associates would
treat me if they suspected my object. Galling Solon, however, I went
forward. The watch were standing, with their hands in their pockets, on
the topgallant forecastle.

"Keep a bright look out, my lads," said I. "We are not far off the
land, and it won't do to run the ship ashore."

I wanted to ascertain who the men were, but none of them spoke I felt
pretty sure that one of them was Cobb. Presently I saw Mr Barwell come
up the fore-hatchway. I knew him by his dress and figure.

"A fine night, Mr Barwell," said I, as he stepped up on the topgallant
forecastle. "It's a sort of night you landsmen don't often meet with, I
suspect."

"Not often, youngster," he answered. "But one might suppose, from the
way you talk, that you had been all your life afloat."

"No, it's my first voyage, like yours, Mr Barwell; only, as you see, I
have taken kindly to the life; now, you probably would never become a
better seaman than you are now," I could not help replying. "However,
if you have a fancy to learn, I will teach you to knot and splice, and
show you all I know myself."

"Thank you, but I am contented to know how to make shoes," he drawled
out, in quite a different tone to that in which he had before spoken. I
was convinced that Mr Henley was right.

"Mend shoes! I wouldn't wish for a better man at the weather earing
when reefing topsails in a gale of wind--that is to say, if you were but
a seaman," I observed, laughing, as I turned to go aft.

He started, and my remarks evidently puzzled him not a little, as I
intended they should. As I was just abaft the main-mast, I hea