though the
captain was the tallest and most powerful man in the ship, he did not
strikingly excel many of his men in this respect; and the only
difference that an ordinary observer would have noticed was a certain
degree of open candour, straightforward daring, in the bold, ferocious
expression of his face, which rendered him less repulsive than his
low-browed associates, but did not by any means induce the belief that
he was a hero. This look was, however, the indication of that spirit
which gave him the pre-eminence among the crew of desperadoes who called
him captain. He was a lion-like villain, totally devoid of personal
fear, and utterly reckless of consequences, and therefore a terror to
his men, who individually hated him, but unitedly felt it to be to their
advantage to have him at their head.

But my thoughts soon reverted to the dear companions whom I had left on
shore; and as I turned towards the Coral Island, which was now far away
to leeward, I sighed deeply, and the tears rolled slowly down my cheeks
as I thought that I might never see them more.

"So you're blubbering, are you, you obstinate whelp?" said the deep
voice of the captain as he came up and gave me a box on the ear that
nearly felled me to the deck. "I don't allow any such weakness aboard
o' this ship. So clap a stopper on your eyes, or I'll give you
something to cry for."

I flushed with indignation at this rough and cruel treatment, but felt
that giving way to anger would only make matters worse; so I made no
reply, but took out my handkerchief and dried my eyes.

"I thought you were made of better stuff," continued the captain
angrily. "I'd rather have a mad bulldog aboard than a water-eyed puppy.
But I'll cure you, lad, or introduce you to the sharks before long.
Now go below, and stay there till I call you."

As I walked forward to obey, my eye fell on a small keg standing by the
side of the mainmast, on which the word _gunpowder_ was written in
pencil. It immediately flashed across me that as we were beating up
against the wind, anything floating in the sea would be driven on the
reef encircling the Coral Island. I also recollected--for thought is
more rapid than the lightning--that my old companions had a pistol.
Without a moment's hesitation, therefore, I lifted the keg from the deck
and tossed it into the sea! An exclamation of surprise burst from the
captain and some of the men who witnessed this act of mine.

Striding