, "You see that we have now got
this brig. You are the only man on board who can navigate her. You must
stay with us, for we want you to sail the ship to Manila. The other men
we shall put in the longboat, and this chart you will draw will be good
enough for them to reach the nearest land."

"The nearest land! Good God! it is inhabited by ferocious cannibals who
will eat them! You cannot be so inhuman!" said the mate.

Mancillo laughed cruelly--"Let them be eaten I so much the better for
us. When they are dead they cannot talk."

"Then let me share their fate, I----"

The leader of the mutineers placed the muzzle of his pistol against
Loftgreen's chest.

"Be silent, you damned Ingleese dog! Be silent, and do what I tell you,
or by the Holy Virgin, I kill you."

Thereupon the mate, notwithstanding his wounded arm, and with his
thoughts distracted by the fate before him, not only made a good
chart, but he did more; for it suddenly flashed upon him that in all
probability neither Mancillo nor any of his fellow-ruffians could read
English, so after finishing the drawing he turned to Mancillo and said--

"Mr. Todd is an ignorant man, and this chart will be of no use to him
unless I can give him directions how to steer. Will you let me do so?"

"No!" answered the mutineer, quickly, "you must not speak to him again,
nor to any of the others."

"As you will. Poor fellows; I can do no more, but at least I can write
on the back of the chart and tell Mr. Todd the prevailing directions of
the winds, the courses to be steered, and the name of the least savage
of the islands he can make for."

Then coolly turning the chart over, he scribbled a few lines upon it.

"There," he said, "read that; you will see that that can do no harm."

Mancillo looked critically at the writing for a few minutes, and
Loftgreen's heart thumped against his ribs as he watched. Then a sigh of
relief burst from him as the mutineer spoke.

"We are not murderers, and do not mind for you to give the second mate
the good directions. But if you are lying to us we shall have your life
for it."

These were the words he had written: "Not allowed to speak or write.
Coast the islands, all are dangerous till you reach Otaheite. Am forced
to navigate the mutineers to Manila, I will try to retake the ship, as
I think I can gain over Jose and the cook, and then make for Otaheite.
Have patience, and trust in God always."

Loftgreen was then again placed in