was
long-established and it was established on brass tacks. They knew what
they were about, the old cusses, when they put the grub in the
lazarette."

Louis says there is not more than three days' regular whack in the
galley; that the barrel of hard-tack in the forecastle will quickly go;
and that our chickens, which they stole last night from the top of the
'midship-house, are equivalent to no more than an additional day's
supply. In short, at the outside limit, we are convinced the men will be
keen to talk surrender within the week.

We are no longer sailing. In last night's darkness we helplessly
listened to the men loosing headsail-halyards and letting yards go down
on the run. Under orders of Mr. Pike I shot blindly and many times into
the dark, but without result, save that we heard the bullets of answering
shots strike against the chart-house. So to-day we have not even a man
at the wheel. The _Elsinore_ drifts idly on an idle sea, and we stand
regular watches in the shelter of chart-house and jiggermast. Mr. Pike
says it is the laziest time he has had on the whole voyage.

I alternate watches with him, although when on duty there is little to be
done, save, in the daytime, to stand rifle in hand behind the jiggermast,
and, in the night, to lurk along the break of the poop. Behind the chart-
house, ready to repel assault, are my watch of four men: Tom Spink, Wada,
Buckwheat, and Louis. Henry, the two Japanese sail-makers, and the old
steward compose Mr. Pike's watch.

It is his orders that no one for'ard is to be allowed to show himself,
so, to-day, when the second mate appeared at the corner of the 'midship-
house, I made him take a quick leap back with the thud of my bullet
against the iron wall a foot from his head. Charles David tried the same
game and was similarly stimulated.

Also, this evening, after dark, Mr. Pike put block-and-tackle on the
first section of the bridge, heaved it out of place, and lowered it upon
the poop. Likewise he hoisted in the ladder at the break of the poop
that leads down to the main deck. The men will have to do some climbing
if they ever elect to rush us.

I am writing this in my watch below. I came off duty at eight o'clock,
and at midnight I go on deck to stay till four to-morrow morning. Wada
shakes his head and says that the Blackwood Company should rebate us on
the first-class passage paid in advance. We are working our passage, he
contends.

Margar