for help.

It was a wonderful change from the previous night as we hurried along
the deck to join our friends. The ship rode on an even keel, the night
was glorious with stars, and the lanterns shone bright and clear where
they were swung. There was no creeping along a few feet at a time,
holding on by rope and belaying-pin, with the spray dashing over the
side.

We could see the group about the hatch standing a little back, for in
spite of our defences, the mutineers were making a desperate effort to
escape, and were keeping up a steady fire through the top and sides to
cover the work of one of their number, who was chopping away at the door
to hack out the fastening.

As we reached them, Mr Brymer was ready revolver in hand, hesitating as
to whether he should fire, for he was husbanding his ammunition, the
supply being far from abundant.

"It's getting warm, doctor," he said as we came up. "What is to be
done? I grudge wasting cartridges."

Just then Bob Hampton, who had been right aft, came trotting up.

"Who is at the wheel?" said Mr Brymer, sharply.

"Blane, sir."

"That will do. Look here, Hampton, the captain saw to the receiving of
the powder and cartridges while I was busy over the other portions of
the cargo, and he is too weak to be questioned. You joined the mutiny
for a time."

"Never, sir, for no time," growled Bob.

"Well, you were with the men, and in their confidence."

"Not a bit on it, sir, arksing your pardon. Frenchy never trusted me a
mite; only got all the work out of me that he could."

"Well, well, we will not argue little points," said Mr Brymer,
impatiently, as the chopping and firing went on. "You saw a great deal
of what was going on."

"Yes, sir, heaps; I kep' my eyes open."

"Well, tell me this--what about the powder and weapons? What do you
know about them?"

"I'll tell you, sir," said Bob; "but, begging your pardon, hadn't you
better clap a stopper on this here game?"

"How, man?"

"Answering them shots, sir."

"I would, but my cartridges are nearly all gone. How did you get
these?"

"Outer the hold, sir, where they stowed 'em close alongside o' the
blasting-powder. There's plenty more."

"Can you get them?"

"Oh yes, sir. You see, before the mutiny began, Jarette set some one,
as I heard afterward, to smuggle all the cartridges and weapons he could
out of the cabins and from the captain's locker."

"Yes, we found out that had been done. Who d