"Oh, my mate and I'll stick to it, sir," said the spokesman of the two men. "Frenchy was all talk about our being orficers and gentlemen if we rose again Captain Berriman, but as soon as we did rose he pumps hisself up, and it's all Captain Jarette, and every one else is nobody at all 'cept for him to cuss at." "That was so," growled Hampton. "Yes," said the other sailor; "but I wants to know this: if we two's got our necks in the nooses, why arn't Bob Hampton and Neb Dumlow?" "'Cause we never shoved 'em in, my lad," said Bob Hampton, with a chuckle. "It was all a paddy till we could get the genle-men out to make a fight on it. That's so, arn't it, gents?" "Yes, my lads, Hampton, Dumlow, and Blane have been fighting for us all through." "Oh, that's it, is it?" said the man. "Very well. Anything for a quiet life, I says; on'y how much longer are we to be at the wheel?" "I'll have you relieved soon, my men, so do your best, and keep easing her off another point or two now and then." "Ay; don't keep running her nose into all the big waves, mateys," cried Hampton; and then to Mr Frewen--"You won't have to shoot 'em this time, sir. They arn't a bad sort. It was all that Frenchy." "Come to the saloon now," said Mr Frewen, and we all hurried down into the black place, and to the door of the cabin, through which we could hear a growling sound. By this time Bob Hampton had been made fully aware of the strange state of affairs, and was indulging in several hearty chuckles at his messmate's expense. And now as I began to unfasten the door, he said quickly-- "I'd be a bit on my guard, gentlemen, for Barney 'll be a bit nasty at all this here, and p'r'aps show fight, and when he do he hits hard. Did you tie him werry fast?" "As fast as we could," said Mr Brymer, and I threw open the door. "Below there, matey!" cried Bob Hampton. "How are you?" There was a curious growling noise and a loud rap on the cabin-floor. "Easy, my lad, and I'll cast you off. Wait till I get hold of the knots. Frenchy's under hatches, and things is all right again." "Goroo, goroo!" gurgled poor Blane, and knowing exactly what was the matter, I got hold of the piece of linen that had been used as a gag, and dragging at one end, soon freed the poor fellow's mouth from its great stopper. "Ah!" he roared out, after taking a long free breath. "That was your game, Bob, but on'y just wait till I gets my lists." "No, no, my lad," cried Mr Brymer; "it was all our doing, and we made a mistake in the darkness. We were lying in wait for Jarette, and took you for him." "No, you didn't," cried Barney, fiercely, "or you'd have pitched me overboard--you on'y wait till I get my hands loose." "Don't be a fool, messmate!" growled Bob Hampton; "you hears what the gentleman says." "Yes, but it was a lark, and you sent me here to be ketched."