officers. No answer came. All the officers had
their swords, and Halliday and I had got hold of two of the axes which
had been taken to form the raft. Boxall told me to urge the carpenter,
who seemed to be the chief in rank, to cut down the mutineers at once,
and either heave them overboard or lash them to the raft, as he was
certain they would otherwise take an early opportunity of attacking us
when unprepared, and would put us all to death. He hesitated, however,
observing that most of them had their knives, and that it would be no
easy matter to overcome them.

Again voices shouted, "Where is Pedro Alvez? Let him show himself."

"He went overboard and was drowned; and many more will follow him, if we
are interfered with," answered some one from the end of the raft
occupied by the mutineers.

This answer evidently alarmed the carpenter, who was a very different
sort of man from the brave boatswain.

"We will remain quiet till we are attacked, and then, of course, we will
defend ourselves," he observed in a low voice.

"Our only chance will be to keep together and be constantly on the
watch," observed Boxall. "I wish he would let me have his sword; I
suspect that I should make a better use of it than he will."

The carpenter declined to give up his own weapon, but promised to try
and get one--as he was sure that the English officer would make good use
of it.

Boxall had hitherto been able to arm himself only with a heavy piece of
wood, but which his strong arm was likely to use with good effect. In a
short time, however, the gunner brought him a sword.

"Tell your brother officer that I am sure he will fight well with it,
and do his best to maintain order."

"Thank him," answered Boxall. "He may trust me."

Something like order was at length restored; and the mutineers held
their post on the after-part of the raft, while we kept ours round the
mast. Thus the remainder of the night passed away.

The sun rose at last hot and red over the calm ocean; the heat became
intense, and every one was crying out for food and water. Halliday
whispered to me that he had taken my advice, and had filled his pockets
with biscuits and sausages--which he invited Boxall and me to partake
of. We agreed that they would be nothing among so many; still we did
not like to eat them in the presence of others.

"I ate as much as I wanted during the night," said Halliday; "and I
think if you were to sit down behind me, yo