"Think there'll be any more fighting? Just hark at him, gentlemen. Why, you grumbling old swab, do you think as, once having hold of the Burgh Castle and calling hisself skipper, old Frenchy's the sort o' man to let a few planks and a hatchway keep him from making another try? You wait a bit, old man, if you're so precious anxious to get yourself made sore. Frenchy won't forget us for gammoning him, and pretending to be on his side." "I ain't hankshus to be made sore, Bob, old matey," growled Barney; "it's a kind o' nat'ral feeling in me to make him sore, and I'm going to do it if I gets half a chance." "All right then, Mr Brymer 'll see as you has one, I dessay." The next minute we were at the cabin in which the captain was lying, but he rose up on one arm as the door was thrown open and the light of the lantern flashed in. Mr Frewen went to him directly. "How are you?" he cried. "I could not come to you before." "Tell me," cried Captain Berriman excitedly, "what has been going on?" "Nothing much," said Mr Frewen, smiling. "But I heard firing and a struggle in the saloon," cried the captain, clinging to Mr Frewen's arm. "Well, yes, we have been re-taking the ship." "What?" "Humph! Poor fellow, he could not bear it," said Mr Frewen, as Captain Berriman sank back half-fainting, but he re-opened his eyes and clung to the doctor again. "Too good--to be true," he muttered. "Thank God--thank God!" There was perfect silence for a few moments, as our poor wounded captain lay back with his eyes closed. Then with his face losing its feeble, despairing look, he said anxiously-- "I don't see Brymer; is he hurt?" "No; quite safe." "Mr Preddle?" "We are all pretty sound, and the mutineers are shut down in the forecastle, sir." "Oh, if I only had strength!" said the captain. "Doctor, you have half cured me with this news; can't you give anything to set me up for an hour or two?" "Nothing," said Mr Frewen, sadly. "I can only tell you that you must be patient. You must lie here and give your orders. We will execute them as far as we can." "And we are in a bad storm. There must be danger on that side too, but I can do nothing." "Mr Brymer will do his best, and there are three of the best seamen to help." "What?" he cried excitedly. "Hampton, and two more?" "No, no, traitors, don't trust them--the scoundrels." "No, we arn't, cap'n," growled Bob Hampton. "We was obliged to sham Abram a bit. Now I do call that 'ere hard, arter me and Dumlow and Barney helped get the ship back again." "You did?" cried the captain. "Course we did." "Yes, they have been true as steel," said Mr Frewen. "You need not fear these men." "And that boy, Walters?" "Oh, him, sir! He's down below somewheres, and he'd better stay too," growled Bob Hampton, "for if he shows his nose, young Mr Dale here's going to tackle him pretty warmly." "But have you got the men prisoners?" said the captain, anxiously. "Yes, quite safe."