"Yaw, yaw," replied the spectre-crew, put into motion by the order. The boatswain piped belay--the sound could hardly be distinguished, as from long use he had blown away much of the metal of which his pipe was composed. Jansen, the mate, looked up at the fore-yard, and then at Vanderdecken. He appeared at first irresolute when he looked into the dogged countenance of Vanderdecken;--at last, he hitched up his nether garments with both hands, and spoke--"It won't do, Captain Vanderdecken,--and the men say it won't do--do you not, my lads, all of you?" "Yaw," was the hollow, melancholy response of the seamen. "Donder und blitzen--what won't do?" replied the captain. "We must bear up, Captain Vanderdecken," replied Jansen; "the ship leaks like an old sieve; our hold is full of water; the men are worn out; every sail we have has been bent and split; nothing but the foresail left. It's no use, Captain Vanderdecken, we must bear up and refit." "You forget mine oath," replied Vanderdecken, surlily. "Hold on, Jansen, that sea is aboard of us." Jansen shook his three jackets and ten pair of small-clothes, as soon as the drenching had passed over. "I tell you, Mynheer Vanderdecken, it won't do--we must bear up." "Yaw, yaw," responded the crew. "Mine oath!" cried the captain again, as he held on by one of the belaying pins. "Without sails, without provisions, and without fresh water on board, you cannot keep your oath--which was to double the Cape. We must bear up, refit, and then try it again." "Mine Oath--I have sworn--I cannot--I will not bear up; Jansen, hold your tongue." "Well, you may keep your oath--for we will bear up for you against your will." "We will! Who will? Do you mutiny?" "Yaw, yaw; we all mutiny," cried the sailors; "we have been now two years trying to double this stormy Cape, and never had a dry jacket the whole time; we must mend our small-clothes, and darn our stockings. For two years and more we have had no fresh meat, and that is contrary to the articles. Captain Vanderdecken we do not mutiny; but we will bear up; with your will, if you please; if not, against your will." "So you mutiny, you ungrateful rascals! Well, stop a moment, till I go into my cabin; when I come out again, I will hear what you have to say, and see if any man dares speak;" and Captain Vanderdecken in a great fury rushed aft and went into his cabin. "I know what he will do, my men," said Jansen; "he has gone for his double-barrelled pistols, and will shoot us through the head;--we must not let him come out again." "Nein, nein," replied the seamen; and they ran to the cabin-doors, and made them fast, so that Vanderdecken could not get out, and could shoot nobody but himself. "Now my lads," said Jansen, "put the helm up, and square the yards." "What's the course to be, Mynheer Jansen," asked the man at the helm. "Keep her right before it, my man; how's her head now?" "About south-west."