pe the savages, and they will naturally run this way--we must not
leave them to be murdered."

"There are no savages in the case," answered Morton, "and there is no
time to be lost; the men have killed the first officer, and Mr Frazer,
too, I fear; and they will take the ship and commit more murders, unless
we can get there before them, to warn those on board."

This was more horrible than any thing that we had anticipated; but we
had no time to dwell upon it: the sound of oars rattling in the
row-locks, was heard from beyond the point.

"There are the mutineers!" cried Morton; "but I think that we have the
advantage of them; they must pull round yonder point, which will make at
least a quarter of a mile's difference in the distance to the ship."

"There is no use in trying to get to the ship before them," said Max,
"the long-boat pulls eight oars, and there are men enough to fill her."

"There _is_ use in trying; it would be shameful _not_ to try; if they
pull most oars, ours is the lightest boat," answered Morton with
vehemence.

"It us out of the question," said Browne; "see, is there any hope that
we can succeed?" and he pointed to the bow of the long-boat just
appearing from behind the point.

"O, but this is not right!--Browne! Max! in the name of all that is
honourable, let us make the attempt," urged Morton, laying a hand in an
imploring manner on the arm of each. "Shall we let them take the ship
and murder our friends, without an effort to warn them of their danger?
You, Arthur, are for making the attempt, I know--this delay is wrong:
the time is precious."

"Yes, let us try it," said Arthur, glancing rapidly from the long-boat
to the ship, "if we fail, no harm is done, except that we incur the
anger of the mutineers. I, for one, am willing to take the risk."

Max sprang into the boat, and seized an oar without another word.

"_You_ know well, that I am willing to share any danger with the rest,
and that it was not the danger that made me hesitate," said Browne,
laying his hand on Morton's shoulder, and looking earnestly into his
face; and then, in his usual deliberate manner, he followed Max's
example.

Morton, Arthur, and myself now pushed the boat into the surf and sprang
in. At Arthur's request, I took the rudder; he and Morton seized the
two remaining oars, and the four commenced pulling with a degree of
coolness and vigour, that would not have disgraced older and more
practised oarsmen.