"Humph! Well, don't let Miss Denning see you. If you had been knocked about like this in a struggle with those scoundrels under the hatch you would have won her sympathy; but a lad who goes and indulges in fisticuffs till his face looks like a muffin which has tumbled into the slop-basin, can't show himself in ladies' society till he has grown well." "Oh, I say, Mr Frewen!" I cried. "It's a fact," he said, laughing at my dismal face. "But can't you put some stuff on it to make it look better?" "No, nothing," he said coolly. "I only know of one thing that will help you out of your difficulty," he continued quietly. "Yes," I said. "What?" "You must wait till we have another fight with the men forward, and then if you get knocked about, all those bruises will go to the same account." I was busily bathing my face and hands as he spoke, and then, as I began dabbing myself gently with a towel, there was an alarm from forward which suggested that, though I was getting stiffer and more sore every moment, the time had already come for the doctor's remedy to be put in force, for there was a pistol-shot followed by several more, and a loud shouting which sounded like cries for help. It was a wonderful change from the previous night as we hurried along the deck to join our friends. The ship rode on an even keel, the night was glorious with stars, and the lanterns shone bright and clear where they were swung. There was no creeping along a few feet at a time, holding on by rope and belaying-pin, with the spray dashing over the side. We could see the group about the hatch standing a little back, for in spite of our defences, the mutineers were making a desperate effort to escape, and were keeping up a steady fire through the top and sides to cover the work of one of their number, who was chopping away at the door to hack out the fastening. As we reached them, Mr Brymer was ready revolver in hand, hesitating as to whether he should fire, for he was husbanding his ammunition, the supply being far from abundant. "It's getting warm, doctor," he said as we came up. "What is to be done? I grudge wasting cartridges." Just then Bob Hampton, who had been right aft, came trotting up. "Who is at the wheel?" said Mr Brymer, sharply. "Blane, sir." "That will do. Look here, Hampton, the captain saw to the receiving of the powder and cartridges while I was busy over the other portions of the cargo, and he is too weak to be questioned. You joined the mutiny for a time." "Never, sir, for no time," growled Bob. "Well, you were with the men, and in their confidence." "Not a bit on it, sir, arksing your pardon. Frenchy never trusted me a mite; only got all the work out of me that he could." "Well, well, we will not argue little points," said Mr Brymer, impatiently, as the chopping and firing went on. "You saw a great deal of what was going on." "Yes, sir, heaps; I kep' my eyes open."