ot be content till all the delegates are
made admirals, I suppose."

"Still, I hope that we shall not be following their example," said I.
"We have a good number of black sheep on board, but still, I think,
there are enough honest men to keep them in check."

"That's the very thing I doubt, Jack," he whispered. "I don't like the
thoughts of peaching on a shipmate, but when villains are plotting
treachery, as some on board here are doing, we have but one duty to
perform. I must carry the information to the captain. In case they
find me out, and heave me overboard, or trice me up at the yard-arm--as
they are likely enough to do--if you live take care that my memory is
treated with justice. Now, Jack, there is no time to lose; I'll tell
the captain that he may trust to you and a few others, but the greater
number of the ship's company have been won over by the promises of that
artful fellow Parker and his mates." Saying this, Peter walked boldly
aft, and, unsuspected, entered the captain's cabin.

He told me afterwards that Captain Trollope received the information
very calmly, nor did he seem at all to doubt its correctness. The plan
was to wait till the ship was under way to proceed on a cruise in the
North Sea, and then to seize the captain and all the officers, and to
carry the ship instead to the Nore. Several other ships had already
weighed without orders, and had joined the mutineers at the Nore. No
preparation, however, was made that I saw for the expected event.

The next day Peter and I were sent for into the cabin. "Take up these
things, and accompany me," said the captain to us. There was a compass
and a basket of provisions; and I saw that the captain had a pistol-case
under his arm. Leaving the cabin, he led the way below to the door of
the magazine. If any of the mutineers observed him, I don't suppose
they guessed what he was about.

The powder-magazine of a man-of-war has a clear space round it--a sort
of ante-room, which is kept clear of everything, so as to decrease the
risk of fire reaching it. This ante-room has a grated door before it.
The captain produced a key, and opening the grated door, went in, taking
from us the articles we carried. He then locked himself in from the
inside. This done, he opened the inner door of the magazine, exposing a
number of powder-flasks to view. Having arranged his table and chairs,
with the compass and his pistols, and some books he had brought, he