rope being pulled slowly in. At this I shouted
again, and he ceased.

"The screw!" I called. "The screw!"

He moved away to the port side and once more the rope began to move.
Gradually I reached the side of the ship, about a dozen feet to port,
and five minutes later I was safe on deck.

"Good Lord, sir, what is it?" asked Ellison's voice in terror.

"My arm is cut through, and one leg is near broken," I gasped. "Don't
ask me more, but get me brandy."

He returned in an incredibly short time, for if he was a man of
leisurely British mind he was wonderful on his feet. I drank the raw
spirit and felt better.

"Now, do you believe?" I asked him.

"You mean----"

"That I was knocked overboard. I knew too much," I said sharply. "Don't
stand staring, man. We don't know where we are, or what is afoot. Give
me your arm and let us get to the bridge. Stay, have you any weapon?"

"No, sir."

"Any available?"

"No, sir, not without waking the carpenter."

"That is the usual British way," said I. "Believe nothing until it
happens. Nothing does happen, does it? Nothing has happened, has it,
Ellison? Well, we must chance it. At least we have stout fists. We made
our way under the shelter of the saloon and smoking-room, and came to
the steps of the bridge. I mounted with great difficulty, and Ellison
followed. Legrand turned at our appearance and surveyed us under the
gleam of his lamp with astonishment.

"Mr. Legrand," said I, "I need not ask if you have weapons available,
for I'm sure you have not. But you will need them."

"What is't you mean?" he said sharply.

"Mutiny and murder," said I.

He went straight to the speaking-tube without a word, and called down
to the engineer's room, "Mr. McCrae, will you personally bring me a
couple of pistols, or any offensive weapon at hand. Iron bars will
do--at once, please."

This was a man after my own heart. I could have embraced him. He came
back to me.

"And now, doctor?"

I told him. He was silent, and then brought out a string of expletives.
"I mistrusted the filthy pack from the first," he said. "See what they
give us to work with, sir--the scum of Glasgow and London; and none of
us to have a say in the matter. I'd sooner go to sea with Satan than
scum like that," he said fiercely. "As soon as I set eyes on them I
knew we were in for it--but not this," he added, "not this by a long
chalk."

"There's one thing to be done," said I.

"We'll do it now," he re