"Once more, stop that or I fire!" A shout of derision came from within. "I warn you again!" roared Mr Brymer. "I fired before without trying to hit you, now I shall aim straight. Stop that this moment!" "Fire away! Ready below, lads, I'll have it off--" The report of the revolver, a hoarse, half-stifled cry from within, and then a yell of rage arose, to mingle with the shrieking of the wind. "I was obliged to fire, Mr Frewen," said the mate, sharply, "for at any cost we will keep the upper hand now." No one spoke, and I could not help shivering as I saw the stern looks of the men by me, even Mr Preddle's round smooth face looking fierce and determined. Mr Frewen was the first to open his lips. "It is a bitter necessity," he said; "those men must be kept down, but I am obliged to speak now. Brymer, I am a surgeon, and there are at least two wounded men there below, perhaps more. It is necessary for me to go down." "It is impossible, Mr Frewen. If I give orders for that hatch to be opened, there will be a rush, and even if we remain masters and beat them down, it can only be at the cost of wounding more, perhaps causing death." "Why not make a truce with them?" "With the men it would be easy enough, but not with their leader, a scoundrel who feels that he is fighting with penal servitude before him, perhaps the halter! But, Mr Frewen, these are no times for being humane. No; that hatch shall not be opened." "But I will stand ready, after telling the men what I am going to do, and if they will keep away while the hatch is open there can be no rush." "I think differently, sir," said Mr Brymer, coldly. "I agree with Mr Brymer, sir," said Mr Denning, "that it would be madness." "But you agree with me, Mr Preddle?" cried the doctor, excitedly. "No, I don't, Mr Frewen," came in Mr Preddle's high-pitched voice. "I don't like men to suffer, but I won't give my vote for you to go down into that wild beasts' cage." Mr Frewen laughed bitterly, and turned to me. "What do you say, fellow-prisoner?" he cried. "I shall vote against Mr Frewen being allowed to go down," I said sturdily. "We want your help more than they do." "Bravo! my lad," cried Mr Brymer. "Well, yes; bravo! then," said the doctor, sadly. "I am beaten; I give in." "Thank you, Frewen," cried Mr Brymer, holding out his hand, which the doctor took frankly. "I am sorry to go against you, but you are too valuable to us here. I am sure that if I let you go down, they would not let you come up gain. Jarette is fox enough to know how your absence would weaken us, and then there is the captain; I place his life as of more value than that of a mutinous crew." "I'm convinced," said Mr Frewen. "My desire was to stay, but as a surgeon I couldn't stand still, knowing that my help was wanted down there." "You doctors are so greedy," cried Mr Preddle. "You have two patients as it is, and if we're going, on like this I'm afraid you'll soon have some more."