Brymer, holding out his hand, which the
doctor took frankly. "I am sorry to go against you, but you are too
valuable to us here. I am sure that if I let you go down, they would
not let you come up gain. Jarette is fox enough to know how your
absence would weaken us, and then there is the captain; I place his life
as of more value than that of a mutinous crew."

"I'm convinced," said Mr Frewen. "My desire was to stay, but as a
surgeon I couldn't stand still, knowing that my help was wanted down
there."

"You doctors are so greedy," cried Mr Preddle. "You have two patients
as it is, and if we're going, on like this I'm afraid you'll soon have
some more."

"Yes," said the doctor, turning to Mr Denning, "I shall have another
one. Forgive me for speaking, Mr Denning, but I think you ought to go
back to your cabin now and remove your wet things."

"You mean well, sir," said Mr Denning, courteously, "but I am wanted
here."

"Not now, sir," said the mate. "I think we can manage, and if you would
hold yourself in readiness to turn out if we raise an alarm that would
be enough."

"I am here, and I have faced so much of the storm and trouble that I
will see it through now."

No one attempted to argue with him, and the watch was resumed, with the
ship tearing through the water before the storm, for short-handed as we
were, Mr Brymer shrank from attempting to alter her course, or riding
head to wind.

From time to time there was a stir below, and voices rose angrily, but
we could always hear Jarette's shrill utterances, and he generally
seemed to calm the men down, or to master them, with the result that the
angry sounds ceased and gave place to a low murmuring as if some plan
were being discussed. After this had been going on some time, on one
occasion Mr Brymer, who had been aft at the wheel with Bob Hampton and
had returned in time to hear the talking, shook his head and said to Mr
Frewen--

"That sounds bad. They're hatching a new plot against us. It is like
having your ship on fire somewhere amongst the cargo in a place where
you cannot reach. It goes on smouldering day after day, and you are in
the full expectation of its breaking out. You don't know when, but you
are sure that it must come before long."

"I was thinking something of the kind," replied the doctor.

And so was I, though I did not speak. And in addition, I had an idea in
my head that I could not work out, and while I was trying I had