Channing then proceeded to the cabin of the second officer, but not until he had locked the captain securely in his own apartment. ‘Banning, I regret to say you are my prisoner,’ said Channing to the mate, after securing his arms as he had done the captain’s. ‘Hey? what, mutiny?’ ejaculated the terrified man. ‘Yes, Banning, and piracy if you will.’ ‘Oh! spare my life,’ said the trembling coward. ‘No danger, sir, if you remain quiet.’ ‘Oh, I’ll do nothing,’ continued the mate. ‘Show your obedience by being quiet now.’ Channing then locked Banning in his state-room, and ascended to the deck. He had left Jack Herbert at the helm and in charge of the ship; he now sent him forward to order the crew aft to where he stood, as he wished to speak with them. ‘Well my boys,’ commenced Channing addressing the crew, ‘I have got some news for you. The captain is disarmed and locked in his cabin as my prisoner; so is Mr. Banning, the mate. I have done this because I’m determined to have possession of this brig myself. She’s a British brig, you are all, or nearly so, Americans; I am also an American, and this brig must belong to Americans. I am alone responsible for what has been done. You are now without a captain. How many of you will ship under me?’ ‘All--all,’ was the response from every quarter. ‘Thanks to you, my men. I shall leave it to Mr. Herbert--mark me, it is Mr. Herbert in future--to tell you of the treachery that it was proposed to play off upon you. He will also be my second in command, and you will obey him as you would do and have ever done me. I shall alter the course of the brig and stand for St. Domingo, where I shall land the captain and mate, and those of you who do not feel inclined to join me. Then I am bound on an expedition to free a couple of Americans from a Spanish prison. After that, why, we will see what next--perhaps a few prizes or something of that sort.’ Jack Herbert had already told the men of his confinement and escape from prison at Havana, and of the present confinement of Lovell and his comrade there, and when they heard their new captain express his determination to release them if the thing was possible, they joined unanimously and heartily in the enterprise. ‘Hurrah, hurrah,’ said they altogether, it being the only way in which they could express their satisfaction. ‘Now mark me, men,’ said Channing, ‘I think you all know me without my giving you such a speech as we had on leaving Boston harbor. I _am_ captain, that you all acknowledge, and that I am one who _will_ be obeyed, I believe you all know, as well as that I have the comfort and good of every man of you at heart. These I shall consider as long as we sail together, this I think you are satisfied of--’ ‘Three cheers for Captain Channing,’ interrupted the crew at this point, and the brig trembled at the echo of the hearty voices of those old sea-dogs who had now got a commander just to their minds.