was on the bridge.

"Send Mr. Legrand to me, and----" he broke off. "But how do you know?"
he asked suspiciously.

"It is not a case of knowledge. It is a case for preparation," he said.
"If we have the arms distributed----"

I was interrupted by a sharp report from below. Day ran out in his
pyjamas, and I followed. We heard Barraclough's voice from the bridge,
raised angrily.

"Go back there, man; get back, Gray."

It was a pitch black night, save for the glittering stars, and I could
only make out a knot of men at the head of the ladder leading from the
lower deck.

"What the devil do you mean?" shouted Barraclough; and then all of a
sudden the knot of men opened in a struggle, and a man burst through
and dashed towards us, falling at my feet.

"For God's sake, sir," he panted out. "They've seized the engine-room,
and Mr. McCrae's shot. 'Twas Pierce done it."

I recognised by his voice Grant, one of the deck-hands, and I helped
him to his feet.

"Who's in this?" I asked; but before he could reply the gang of men
approached nearer, and some one spoke from their midst. It was Holgate.

"Captain Day, I regret to state that the men are not satisfied with the
way things are being conducted," he said, in a level voice. "They are
not satisfied with their pay, for one thing, and there are other
matters. No harm is intended, but they have decided that I am to take
your place, and for the present you are to consider yourselves
prisoners--particularly the doctor," he added.

The offensive assurance of the man made me boil, but on Day it seemed
to have a curiously astringent effect.

"So, Mr. Holgate, there has been a council of war," he said quietly,
even drily, "and you are to step into my shoes. I will give you three
minutes to retire from the deck. Go back! I tell you, do you hear, men?
Go back!"

His acrid voice rang out thinly, but Barraclough above shouted
hoarsely:

"Good God, can't you do something to them?"

At this moment I was aware of noises on the promenade deck, and,
looking up, saw the Prince's figure outlined dimly against the stars.

"You have your orders," he called out in his deep voice. "Go back to
your quarters."

There was a pause, and then the silence was broken by a shot, and one
of the men fell. A second report rang out, and a curse rose on the air.
A third followed, and the men turned and retreated.

From the hurricane deck came still another shot, and they tumbled down
the ladd