e more she moved--grating on,
and, the doctor said, tearing away the work of myriads of polypi.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" a shout arose from all forward. We were free. Away
we flew.

This narrow escape ought to have been a warning to all on board.
Unhappily it was not. The same system was pursued as before. The other
mates grow jealous of Cousin Silas, and did their utmost to counteract
his efforts. One night Jerry and I were on deck, actively moving about,
followed by Old Surley, looking out in every direction; for it was very
dark, and the officers had been having a carouse. For some reason or
other I was more than usually uneasy. So was Jerry.

"I should not wonder," said he, "that something will happen before
long."

"I hope not, if it is something bad," said I; "but I'm not altogether
happy. I think that I will go and call Mr Brand."

"What shall we say to him, though? There will be no use rousing him up
till we have something to tell him." I agreed with Jerry, so we
continued talking as before.

"What are you youngsters about there?" shouted the first mate, who,
although it was his watch, was half tipsy. "Go below, and turn in; I'll
not have chattering monkeys like you disturbing the discipline of the
ship." Jerry and I hesitated about obeying, and Jerry whispered to me
that he would go and call Mr Brand. But the mate sung out, "Mutiny!
mutiny! Go to your own kennels, you young hounds!" and ordered some of
the watch on deck to carry out his commands. We could not help
ourselves, so we went below, and turning into our berths very soon fell
asleep.

How long we had been asleep I do not know. I was awoke by a terrific
crash and loud cries and shrieks. Jerry and I sprung up, so indeed did
everybody below, and rushed on deck. It was very dark; but from the way
the ship heaved and lurched, and the sheets of foam which flew over her,
we knew that she was among the breakers, and striking hard on a reef.
The fore-mast and main-mast had gone by the board. The mizzen-mast
alone stood. That fell soon after we got on deck, crushing several
people beneath it. Anxiously we hunted about shouting for Cousin Silas,
followed by Old Surley, who, since we came on board, scarcely ever left
our heels. We naturally sought him for advice. It was, indeed, a
relief to us to find him unhurt. In a short time we discovered the
doctor and Ben. We clustered together, holding on by the bulwarks; for
every now and then a s