e blotted from my
memory?"

"Massa Easy, I not understand that," replied Mesty: "I think you talk
foolish--might as well say, suppose Ashantee men not make war, this not
happen; for suppose Ashantee not make war, I not slave--I not run away--
I not come board _Harpy_--I not go in boat with you--I not hinder men
from getting drunk--and that why they make mutiny--and the mutiny why
the shark take um?"

Jack made no reply, but he felt some consolation from the
counter-argument of the negro.

The dreadful death of the three mutineers appeared to have had a
sensible effect upon their companions, who walked away from the beach
with their heads down and with measured steps. They were now seen to be
perambulating the island, probably in search of that water which they
required. At noon, they returned to their tent, and soon afterwards
were in a state of intoxication, hallooing and shouting as the day
before. Towards the evening they came down to the beach abreast of the
ship, each with a vessel in their hands, and perceiving that they had
attracted the notice of our hero and Mesty, tossed the contents of the
vessels up in the air to show that they had found water, and hooting and
deriding, went back, dancing, leaping, and kicking up their heels, to
renew their orgies, which continued till after mid night, when they were
all stupified as before.

The next day Jack had recovered from the first shock which the
catastrophe had given him, and he called Mesty into the cabin to hold a
consultation.

"Mesty, how is this to end?"

"How do you mean, sar?--end here, or end on board of de _Harpy_?"

"The _Harpy_!--there appears little chance of our seeing her again--we
are on a desolate island, or what is the same thing; but we will hope
that it will be so: but how is this mutiny to end?"

"Massa Easy, suppose I please I make it end very soon, but I not in a
hurry."

"How do you mean, Mesty, not in a hurry?"

"Look, Massa Easy, you wish take a cruise, and I wish the same ting: now
because mutiny you want to go back--but, by all de powers, you tink that
I, a prince in my own country, feel wish to go back and boil kettle for
de young gentlemen. No, Massa Easy, gib me mutiny--gib me anyting--
but--once I was prince," replied Mesty, lowering his voice at the last
few emphatic words.

"You must one of these days tell me your history, Mesty," replied Jack;
"but just now let us argue the point in question. How could you put an