yers," said Lane,
with innocent recklessness.

Day looked down his nose. "Well, Mr. Pye," he said drily, "we'll try to
forgive you. You fell in with the wrong crowd. If I had known----" he
paused. "The question is, how are we to get in touch with the faithful
men who may be in the forecastle?"

"If you will allow me, sir, I will venture into the forecastle and find
out," said Pye, with a restrained sense of importance.

"You!" cried Day in amazement, and there was a general burst of
laughter, except on the part of the Prince, who was eyeing Pye
severely, and on the part of myself, who did not see anything for
ridicule in the unexpected courage of a timid man.

"I feel in a way responsible," repeated Pye; but his protest was feeble
in effort, for Day put him curtly aside.

"I fear you will not do, sir," said he.

"But I will, captain," I called out. The Prince's eyes came over to me,
leaving Pye. He nodded and addressed Day in an undertone.

"My dear sir, they've marked you out first and foremost," said
Barraclough.

"I'll back the doctor," declared Lane excitedly.

"Oh, I go only in the mission of humanity," I replied. "McCrae may not
be dead. No one knows. And, what's more, the mutineers have two or
three cripples on their hands. They won't lay a hand on me at present."

"That's true, Dr. Phillimore," remarked Day. "Well, if you have weighed
the risks I will not prevent you. It is essential we should know
something more. It will come to blows again, and that without notice.
Mr. Morland," he hesitated, "wishes me to express his thanks for your
offer."

"In that case," said I, acknowledging the compliment with a bow, "I may
as well take time by the forelock," and nodding to Legrand, I slipped
out on the deck.

CHAPTER VIII

THE CAPTURE OF THE BRIDGE

I walked through the darkness to the head of the ladder, where Ellison
was on watch.

"Any news?" I asked the quartermaster.

"No, sir; all quiet," he answered, and as I made to go down he cried
out, "Where are you going, sir? Don't do that. You can't go there."

"It's all right," I answered. "Keep your eyes open. Nothing will happen
to me. And don't be lured from the staircase, whatever occurs; and
here, take my revolver. I'm on a mission of peace." I slipped down the
ladder and found myself in the gloom of the orlop deck. A lantern was
hanging in the shrouds and I had not reached it before I was
challenged.

"It's the doctor, Gray," said I,