bread, and another of salted meat, and some hatchets, and a few
old sails, and, indeed, more things than I can here enumerate, were put
into her. The doctor was summoned into the captain's cabin. He
remained a short time, and when he re-appeared he looked happier than he
had done for many days. Jerry and I were then ordered into the boat;
the doctor, to our great satisfaction, followed. Old Surley, as may be
supposed, would not consent willingly to be left behind, and, watching
his opportunity, he sprang in after us, and, as if he thought he might
be carried back again if perceived, immediately hid himself under the
seats between our legs. We were delighted to have the old fellow, and
trembled lest the pirates, among some of whom he was a favourite, might
insist on keeping him. It was with great satisfaction, therefore, that
we found the boat shoved off from the schooner's side.

Four of the pirates formed the crew of the boat, and taking the oars,
they pulled towards the shore. We did not leave the pirate ship with
any regret, though few people would desire to be landed on a desert
island in the middle of the Pacific. Tom Congo, the black cook, was the
only person who wished us good-bye. He was evidently sorry to lose us.
We had no means of showing our gratitude to him, except by a few hurried
words. We saw his good-natured black visage grinning at us over the
bulwarks, as we left the vessel's side. Suddenly he started back.
There was some violent disturbance on deck. Shouts, and cries, and
pistol-shots were heard. The outbreak we had anticipated was taking
place. There was a mutiny. Some of the crew had risen against the
captain; there could be no doubt about that. Some of the men in the
boat wanted to go back to join in the fray, but an old man among them
shook his head and said, "No! Let the fools fight it out. When we go
back we shall know which side to join." The rest saw the worldly wisdom
of the advice, and calming down their eagerness, they pulled on to the
shore.

We quickly passed through the reef, and the boat grounded on the beach,
which we found was composed of broken corals and shells, and rose some
ten feet out of the water. Had it not been for the disturbance on
board, the boat would probably have returned as soon as the stores
intended for our use had been landed; but, as an excuse for remaining,
the crew offered to carry them up to any place we might select under the
trees where t