"Then the ship must be seen to. She's labouring heavily. Tell Brymer--" "I shall tell Mr Brymer nothing," said Mr Frewen firmly. "You shall give him your orders instead. You can be at peace now, sir, so lie still patiently, and believe that everything possible will be done to preserve order and save the ship." "Yes; thank you," said the captain, whose lip was quivering. "I know I must be patient. There, I'll try and do what I have not done these many hours,--go to sleep. But bring me some news sometimes, Dale, my lad, I shall be so anxious to know." I promised him, and then we hurried out, for from time to time there was an anxious whispering going on in the next cabin, which appealed strongly to Mr Frewen and to me. He pointed to the door as soon as we were outside, and his voice sounded very husky as he said-- "Unfasten it, and go in and tell them that all is safe once more." "Won't you go?" I asked, as I offered him the lantern. "No," he replied, after making an effort to master his anxiety to take the lead. "You and Mr Denning were on friendly terms. He would rather receive the good news from you. In with you quick, and tell him that if he feels strong enough, I--that is, Mr Brymer would be glad if he would come and help to keep watch over the prisoners." "With a rewolver," growled Bob Hampton. "Yes, say with a pistol," said Mr Frewen. "He would be as effective there as a strong man." "Better," growled Bob, "for he understands fire-arm tools, and knows how to shoot." I gave a sharp knock at the door, and then unfastened it and entered, lantern in hand, to see Mr Denning looking ghastly as the light fell upon his face, where he stood before his sister with a tiny revolver in his hand, while the other was behind him holding the poor girl whom he was ready, poor weak creature that he was, to defend as long as he had life. They had been so long in darkness that the light of the lantern, feeble as it was, dazzled them, and they could not see who it was. Before I had time to speak Mr Denning cried fiercely-- "Keep back, scoundrel, or I'll fire!" "No, no! Mr Denning," I cried; "it's all right now, and we've mastered the mutineers." "Ah!" I started forward at that cry--a long, low, pitiful cry--uttered by Miss Denning; and I heard Mr Frewen's step behind me as I dropped the lantern and tried to catch the poor girl. For the good news, after the long and terrible strain, was more than she could bear. I knew afterwards that she had acted like a heroine all through the fearful excitement, and had worked hard to comfort and sustain her brother; while now that the tension was removed, she reeled and would have fallen in spite of my effort. But as the lantern fell, and we were in darkness, I felt some one brush by me, and I knew by the sound that she had not struck the cabin-floor. "Quick, a light, Bob!--matches!" I cried.