I'm afraid my voice sounded very husky in my excitement, and my heart went in leaps and bounds. Frightened? Yes, I was: horribly; and if under similar circumstances any boy or man tells you he was not, don't believe him. I wouldn't. I know I was all of a tremble, but I never felt for a moment that I was going to shrink as I listened to Mr Frewen giving Mr Preddle instructions about the revolver. "No, no," I heard him say, "don't stop to re-charge. If it will not go off, use it as a club." Then he gripped me by the hand. "Ready?" he whispered. "Yes." "Then keep close to me, and come on." We stepped out into the saloon, shut our door after us, and stood listening, wondering whether there was a sentry, but all was still, and concluding that all hands were on deck, Mr Frewen unfastened Mr Preddle's door in the black darkness. He came out, and his door was also closed again. "Follow!" We went after Mr Frewen, and he stopped at a cabin-door on the opposite side, opened it, and I heard him say-- "Brymer." "Yes, who is it? Doctor?" "Yes, dress sharply. Trousers only." "I am dressed. What's up? Striking?" "A blow for liberty." "Hah! A good time while they're fumbling with the old Castle. How many are you?" "Three, and three stout men on deck." "Who are they?" "Hampton, Blane, Dumlow." "All traitors and scoundrels." "All true men waiting for my signal." "Good. And the captain?" "Too badly wounded to stir." "Mr Denning?" "Too weak." "Yes. Lead then; I'll do all you say." "Are you stronger?" "Strong enough for that; but give me something to hit with. All right, I have my pocket-knife." "Ready then? Come on, and let's see what had better be done." "Get Jarette down at any cost," said the mate. "The rest will come easy." All this was in a whisper, and then we followed Mr Frewen to the shattered entrance of the saloon, and stood there looking forward, but seeing very little, though a white peculiar gleam came off the sea, and a couple of lanterns swung forward, by the side of one of which we made out the gleam of an oilskin upon whose wet surface the dim light played. "He'll be up by the wheel," Mr Brymer whispered. "We must tackle him there; and once get him down, we can beat back the others. I'll make sure for you." Just as he spoke all doubt was at an end, for we heard Jarette shout an order to the men at the wheel; and then, before any plan could be made, he trotted forward, swung himself down the steps on to the deck, as we shrank back into the companion-way, and went forward. "Bah! We've let our chance go," whispered Mr Frewen, and then we stood fast, for Jarette stopped and turned to come back into the saloon. "Delivered into our hands," I said to myself, as I drew a long breath, for the great struggle was about to begin. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.