cendancy over the men, making them
follow and trust him with powers which would possibly land them all in
gaol, if no worse fate were in store.

He and Walters were close to me, and I heard what could not have reached
the ears of the men.

"Take care, youngster," he half whispered. "You've got a hasty tongue,
and it stings sometimes. Mind I don't turn and sting again. Recollect
you've committed yourself so deeply that you are mine now; and
recollect, too, that I'm captain."

"Yes, I know," said Walters, sharply, "but he isn't to be trusted,
and--"

"You hate him," said Jarette. "Well, I know you do. There, that's
enough. Here, some of you, which cabin is empty?"

"Second one on the left," cried several.

"Is the door broken by the powder?"

"No; it's all right," said Bob Hampton.

"Carry 'em both in," said Jarette. "Fasten 'em up, and bring me the
key. There, youngster," he continued to me, "I'm sending the doctor
with you to set you right."

I nodded, and then had hard work to keep from shrieking out as two men
lifted me and carried me through the companion into the shattered
saloon, and then into the cabin on the left, laying me down pretty
gently in the cot.

It seemed quite natural to me that I should be brought there, though it
was unintentional on Jarette's part, for the cabin I was in was that
apportioned to Mr Frewen, who was now carried in and laid upon a rug
which covered a portion of the floor.

"Cheer up, Mr Dale, sir," said Dumlow, bluffly, for he was one of the
men who had helped to carry in Mr Frewen. "They won't starve yer. If
they do I'll bring you some o' my wittles and drink."

"Look here, Dumlow," I said, "where are the officers and the
passengers?"

"Shut up, sir, in their cabins, like precious crocks in a cupboard,
that's where they are; and now you're just the same, only you've got a
crack in you somewheres."

The men all laughed and went out, and shut from my sight the shattered
side, and confusion of chests and boxes lying in the saloon. Then I
heard the door fastened, and I made an effort and looked over the side
of the cot, groaning the while with the pain it gave me, down at poor
Mr Frewen, who lay there quite insensible, and I said to myself
bitterly--

"Very kind of them to send me a doctor; why, I shall have to doctor
him."

Then for the first time I saw that he was bleeding a little from one
side of his head, and this roused me so that I forgot a good dea