The captain bit his lips; he fully believed it was a sham on the part of the boatswain (which indeed it was), to get off flogging the men. "Well, then, where is the chief boatswain's mate, Collins?" "Here, sir," said Collins, coming forward: a stout, muscular man, nearly six feet high, with a pig-tail nearly four feet long, and his open breast covered with black shaggy hair. "Give that man a dozen, sir," said the captain. The man looked at the captain, then at the ship's company, and then at the man seized up, but did not commence the punishment. "Do you hear me, sir," roared the captain. "If you please, your honour, I'd rather take my disrating--I--don't wish to be chief boatswain's mate in this here business." "Obey your orders, immediately, sir," cried the captain; "or, by God, I'll try you for mutiny." "Well, sir, I beg your pardon; but what must be, must be. I mean no disrespect, Captain Hawkins, but I cannot flog that man--my conscience won't let me." "Your _conscience_, sir?" "Beg your pardon, Captain Hawkins, I've always done my duty, foul weather or fair; and I've been eighteen years in His Majesty's service, without ever being brought to punishment; but if I am to be hung now, saving your pleasure, and with all respect, I can't help it." "I give you but one moment more, sir," cried the captain: "do your duty." The man looked at the captain, and then eyed the yard-arm. "Captain Hawkins, I will _do my duty_, although I must swing for it." So saying, he threw his cat down on the quarter-deck, and fell back among the ship's company. The captain was now confounded, and hardly knew how to act: to persevere, appeared useless--to fall back, was almost as impossible. A dead silence of a minute ensued. Everyone was breathless, with impatience, to know what would be done next. The silence was, however, first broken by Jones, the Joe Miller, who was seized up. "Beg your honour's pardon, sir," said he, turning his head round: "but if I am to be flogged, will you be pleased to let me have it over? I shall catch my death a-cold, naked here all day." This was decided mockery on the part of the man, and roused the captain. "Sergeant of marines, put Jones, and that man Collins, both legs in irons, for mutiny. My men, I perceive that there is a conspiracy in the ship, but I shall very soon put an end to it: I know the men, and, by God, they shall repent it. Mr Paul, pipe down. Mr Simple, man my gig; and recollect, it's my positive orders that no boat goes on shore." The captain left the brig, looking daggers at me as he went over the side; but I had done my duty, and cared little for that; indeed, I was now watching his conduct, as carefully as he did mine. "The captain wishes to tell his own story first," said Thompson, coming up to me. "Now, if I were you, Simple, I would take care that the real facts should be known." "How's that to be done," replied I; "he has ordered no communication with the shore."