Year: 1871

llllc SluDlCS IItto wa VIZ va
Ificers below. The alarm was thus
given, and nothing accomplished.
The rage of Bill was fearful at having
his plan bungled in this manner. lie
had intended to kill the mate il possi-
bic, without notice; and after that it
would be easy to manage the second
mate and Captain, taken by surprise
in their births. The quarrel grew
fercer and louder-I heard u blow
another-then a pistol-shot, and n
heavy fall,


No one seemed to take any trouble
about the fallen man. He must have
been shot dead, l thought, for L heard
no groan or movement, such as o
wounded man would make. Bill or
dered the rarsee to go fors ard and
stand guard over the fore-scuttle, and
the steward to remain ut the cabin
doors. "Here Paine," said he, "come
v ith me. Bring the lantern from the
round d-housen They were coming
into the after-hold! | had only time to
crawl up into the wing and crouch
down into the narrow space behind the
water-casks, when the two jumped
down with a light and bucket. They
did not come towards ME, but went i'll
on the opposite side, where there was
a barrel ofliqlor standing on its head.
tive me that top-maul,' said Bill;


there on the coils of rigging a few
blows forced in the head, and the
bucket was filled by dipping it into
the barrel.


we are in bad scrape, nOW,' lie
muttered, thanks to that sneaking
blockhead, Hicks. But he'll never
bungle another job OF this kind


How are we going 10 manage ii
now" asked Paine. IF we open the
doors and let them up, we shall nave
some hard fighting to do


Yes. We could overpower them, !
suppose; but some of us would get
killed in doing it. We must smoke
'em. Get that iron pot, and bring it Oh
deck with us. There's lot Of brim-
stone in the rOund~hOuse.


The pot was in three feet Of my
hiding place. But luckily Paine did
not bring the lantern with him. He
set it down in the hatchway, secured
the pot, and the two went on deck
again to prime themselves with liquor,
and prepare their Internal smoke-pot.
/ darted forward over the top Of the
casks to the forecastle bulkhead. The
four men who were imprisoned there
were all up and dressed, but had no
light burning, preferring to wait in the
dark for the expected attack of the
mutineers. They had been reused by
the pistol shot i'll the other part Of the
ship, to find themselves imprisoned.
A part of the partition between them
and me was III the form OF light
wooden grating Of lattice, to admit .
free circulation Of air. This had al
ready been silently removed, and at a
whisper from me, we all went aft
together. No firearms could be got
until we could open " communication
with the officers in the cabin. This
we dared not yet attempt, as the par
tition was solid, and some noise must
be made in Wrenchlng plank oil.


The brig had been whaling on u pre-
vious voyage, and bunch Of lances,
tied together, were still on board.
These were found in rack under the
deck-carlnes. Though u little rusty,
they were still sharp enough to he ter
rible weapons in the hands OF despe-
rate men, if brought to bay. We had
hardly secured these, when there was
a rally at the hatchway, and the pot Of
fire and sulphur was lowered down.
The hatch was instantly capped on,
and the tarpaulin drawn all over. Had
we been taken unawares, q minute or
two would have been sufficient to
smother Us to death. But we were
prepared to meet it, several tin cups
having been brought from the fOrecas-
tie and filled with water from the
cask. Before the tarpauIin covering
was fully secured over the matches,
the fire was all out, and had given
the word to the officers in the cabin to
open communication by forcing off n
plank.


The planks run up and down, and a
few blows of an AK at the foot, given
from the after side, would start the
spikes. AT the first blow, We heard
the sound of dancing feet overhead,
and then the drunken shout of Dark
Bill: Gay! knock away, my hearties!
l thought the birthstone would starve
ye! Keep q good watch on the fore
scuttle, you darkey! Go there with
him, Paine. We shall have break
out soon, either forward or aft, but
they'll be blinded with smoke, and
We'll have the advantage of 'em." A
few more blows Of the aX--the plank
is starting But how those three spikes
seemed to cling to the tough wood.
Tie enemy became suspicious and
lifted OIL the hatch. "Hallo. The fire
out ~ The voice was that of Ugly
Barney. "Here? Bill Paine rally
here, after hatch Quick, before they
break the bulkheadw ~


Barney jumped down to seize the
poi. An opening was already made,
aud we were through it, one at Il time.
He caught sight of us, but before he
could retreat, Joe Bonner let iriye his
trusty lance, which passed through
the ruilian's body, pinning him to the
stanchion. His cry Of mortal agony
brought his comrades to aid him. We
were beyond their reach. Our whole
.orce was collected in the cabin. But
we had friend in the enemy's camp.
Ny chum, Dave Kent, was at tie
wheel, and Bill, at the pistols mouth,
had kept him there, for he could not
spare one of his trusty men to relieve
him, He intended no doubt, to kill
him, as well as myself after he got full
possession of the brig. l had heard
them hunting for me, and Bill decided
that must be either under deck or
aloft. "If he is aloft, said he, "we'll
attend to his case when We get day
light. If he's crawled below, let him
smell birthstone with the rest ="


j knew all along that Dave Kent
wouldn't lose u chance of helping us,
if he saw one. But he was pOwerless
until the moment when the mutineels
rallied to the hatchway, at the pierre
ing cry from Barney, leaving only the
steward at the cabin door. Quick as
thought, Dave seized this fellow from
behind with his powerful grip. The
pistol and cutlass were both useless to |!
him, for the movement had been 50