took every means to make them suffer.

Some days, when the weather was more than ordinarily oppressive, he
would order that no water should be given, and as the food consisted of
salt pork and bread, or ship's biscuit, it can be well imagined how
much they all suffered.

After the vessel had been out twenty days one of the prisoners crawled
up to Allen and whispered into his ear:

"Can we live much longer like this?"

"I am afraid not."

"Then let us put an end to it."

"How?"

"Will you agree to join us?"

"I cannot answer that until I know what is proposed."

"If you do not want to join, you will not betray us?"

"What do you think of me? Have I ever been a sneak?"

"No, colonel, but the scheme is a desperate one."

"What is it?"

"To seize the ship and then take her into port as a captured vessel."

"How can it be done?"

"Jack--you know Jack, the one who brings us tobacco?"

"Yes; he is a kind-hearted Englishman."

"He isn't English, he is Irish. Now, he will file off these handcuffs
and give me the file. By working at every opportunity we can all be
free in a few days; then all we have to do is to force our way out and
seize the skipper. We will throw him overboard, and kill all who
oppose us; then the ship will be ours and we can sell it and divide the
prize money."

"My good fellow, we cannot do it."

"Why?"

"If we seized the ship we should have to sink it, for no one would
purchase it. But I will not countenance murder."

"It is not murder, it is war."

"War is brutal, I know, but when it comes to seizing a captain on board
his own vessel and killing him, that is not war, but murder, or piracy."

"Well, you will not betray us?"

"No. Only give me a chance to fight openly and I will do so, but I
will not kill a man in cold blood."

"But, colonel, you will not interfere with us?"

"No. Only do not tell me anything you are doing."

Allen did not understand that in war all things were justifiable.

He was a gentleman all the way through, and would not fight unless he
could do so honorably.

Whether Jack failed to find the file, or that the prisoners decided not
to mutiny, Allen never knew, but no attempt was ever made to secure
freedom, and after forty days' torture land was sighted.

The prisoners were ordered on deck.

It was a glorious change for them, for they had not breathed a breath
of pure air for forty days.

As they stood on the deck the captain pointed o