n the stormy sea, its
scuppers running blood, its deck heaped with fallen men, sprawling and
struggling in the dark.

Thereupon, Lawless sheathed his dagger, and turning to his next
neighbour, "I have left my mark on them, gossip," said he, "the yelping,
coward hounds."

Now, while they were all leaping and struggling for their lives, the men
had not appeared to observe the rough shoves and cutting stabs with which
Lawless had held his post in the confusion. But perhaps they had already
begun to understand somewhat more clearly, or perhaps another ear had
overheard, the helmsman's speech.

Panic-stricken troops recover slowly, and men who have just disgraced
themselves by cowardice, as if to wipe out the memory of their fault,
will sometimes run straight into the opposite extreme of insubordination.
So it was now; and the same men who had thrown away their weapons and
been hauled, feet foremost, into the Good Hope, began to cry out upon
their leaders, and demand that someone should be punished.

This growing ill-feeling turned upon Lawless.

In order to get a proper offing, the old outlaw had put the head of the
Good Hope to seaward.

"What!" bawled one of the grumblers, "he carrieth us to seaward!"

"'Tis sooth," cried another. "Nay, we are betrayed for sure."

And they all began to cry out in chorus that they were betrayed, and in
shrill tones and with abominable oaths bade Lawless go about-ship and
bring them speedily ashore. Lawless, grinding his teeth, continued in
silence to steer the true course, guiding the Good Hope among the
formidable billows. To their empty terrors, as to their dishonourable
threats, between drink and dignity he scorned to make reply. The
malcontents drew together a little abaft the mast, and it was plain they
were like barnyard cocks, "crowing for courage." Presently they would be
fit for any extremity of injustice or ingratitude. Dick began to mount
by the ladder, eager to interpose; but one of the outlaws, who was also
something of a seaman, got beforehand.

"Lads," he began, "y' are right wooden heads, I think. For to get back,
by the mass, we must have an offing, must we not? And this old
Lawless--"

Someone struck the speaker on the mouth, and the next moment, as a fire
springs among dry straw, he was felled upon the deck, trampled under the
feet, and despatched by the daggers of his cowardly companions. At this
the wrath of Lawless rose and broke.

"Steer yours