"Of course I know I'm not skipper yet, but if you men have the courage
of rabbits I'll be skipper before another sun rises--or whoever you
choose to appoint."

A sudden silence ensued for a few moments, for, although there had been
mutinous whisperings before, no one had, up to that time, ventured to
make a distinct proposal that action should be taken.

"What! steal the ship?" exclaimed a huge black-bearded fellow named
Grummidge. "Nay--I'll have no hand in that."

"Of course not; we have no intention to _steal_ the ship," retorted
Swinton, before any one else had time to express an opinion; "we are all
upright honourable men here. We only mean to take the _loan_ of her.
After all we have suffered we are entitled surely to a pleasure-trip,
and when that's over we can return the ship to the owners--if so
disposed. You'll join us in that, Grummidge, won't you? And we'll make
you skipper--or first mate, if you're too modest to take command." This
sally was received with a subdued laugh, and with marks of such decided
approval, that Grummidge was carried with the current--at all events, he
held his tongue after that.

An earnest undertoned discussion followed, and it was finally arranged
that Big Swinton should sound Master Trench about the propriety of
running to Newfoundland instead of returning on their track to Norway.
The seaman was not slow to act. That afternoon, while at the helm, he
made the suggestion to the skipper, but met with a sharp rebuke and an
order to attend to his duty.

No word did Big Swinton reply, but that very night he entered the cabin
with a dozen men and seized the skipper, his son, and Paul Burns, while
they slept. Of course, being greatly outnumbered, they were overcome
and bound. The two officers of the vessel were also seized by another
party on deck, and all the five were imprisoned in the hold.

Next morning they were brought on deck, and made to stand in a row
before Big Swinton, who had, in the meantime, been appointed by the
mutineers to the command of the ship.

"Now, Master Trench," said Swinton, "we are no pirates. We have no
desire to kill you, so that whether you are killed or not will depend on
yourself. If you agree to navigate this ship to Newfoundland--good; if
not we will heave you overboard."

"Heave away then," growled the skipper, his nature being such that the
more he was defied the more defiant he became.

"Well, Master Trench, you shall have your way.