, of course, they thought were the rest of
the watch. Capstick began grumbling at the chance there was that we
should take no prizes; and declared that, for his part, he was not going
to submit to that sort of thing. The others agreed with him, and swore
that they would stand by him, and do whatever he proposed. Some said
that the best thing would be to go to the captain, and insist that he
should attack the first enemy's merchantman they could fall in with.
`And the captain will tell you to mind your own business, and that he
intends to act as he considers is most for his own interest and that of
the owners,' said Hulk, with an oath. `I tell you, the only thing we
can do is to make him and his young fry, and the old mate and some of
the rest of them, prisoners; or, better still, knock them on the head
and heave them overboard, and then we will make the boatswain captain,
and live a life of independence, just taking as many prizes as we want,
and never troubling ourselves to give an account of them to the owners.'
Some agreed to this, and some didn't seem to like the thought of it;
but they were talked over by the boatswain and Hulk, and agreed to what
they proposed. I cannot say, however, when they intend to carry out
their plan. They talked on for some time longer, and then they all
turned into their hammocks. I lay as quiet as a mouse in a cheese, and
when I thought they were all asleep slipped up on deck to tell you or
the mate, if I could manage to speak to either of you unobserved, that
you might let the captain know of their intentions towards him."

Walter, though considerably agitated at this information, acted with
much discretion, telling Tidy to keep the matter to himself, and to
behave towards the intended mutineers as he had always done, without
letting them have a shade of suspicion that he had discovered their
plot. Having no fear, from what Tidy said, that they intended carrying
it out immediately, he waited till his watch was over to inform his
father and the chief mate. Bidding Tidy go below and turn in again, he
resumed his walk on deck.

They would probably, he thought, wait for a change of weather and a dark
night to execute their project which, it was evident, was not as yet
fully matured.

The second mate had charge of the watch, but Walter was unwilling to
communicate the information to him; for, though an honest man, he
somewhat doubted his discretion. It was an anxious time for the