"Ah, well, we shall see," replied Mr Frewen, "but I suppose that I really ought to have shot down that ruffian, broken one of his legs say, and then spent six months in curing him ready for a judge and jury to punish." "But look here, Mr Frewen," I said, "isn't it all a mad and stupid thing for that man to do?" "Worse than mad, my boy, for what can they do if they keep us down, and carry this vessel into port, which I doubt their ability to do?" "Oh, they can do that," I said quickly. "Bob Hampton is such a capital sailor." "A capital scoundrel," he cried hotly, "and if I have a chance I'll pitch him overboard." "No, you won't, Mr Frewen," I said, laughing; "I don't believe that." "Well, Dale, I'm afraid that if I did, I should want a boat lowered down to pick him up, and go in it myself. There, as you say, it is a mad thing for the men to have done. It shows how a whole party can be carried away by the specious arguments of one scoundrel. However, we know our duty, my lad; and that is to re-take the ship, place the worst of the men in irons, and make the others navigate the vessel, unless you advocate our hanging the worst of them instead of putting them in irons." "There are no irons on board a ship like this," I said quietly. "Ah, and there is plenty of rope, my lad; so you advocate hanging?" "Don't make a joke of it all, Mr Frewen," I said, for I felt annoyed at his talking to me in that way, as if I were a mere boy of eight or nine. "Right," he said sharply. "We will be wise over it all. Hallo, Mr Brymer is making signs for us to be quiet. The captain is going to speak." I looked quickly at the table, and saw that Captain Berriman was standing just below the sky-light, when all at once there was a violent crashing of glass, and I saw pistols held down through the light, while almost at the same moment I heard a rustling noise outside, and leaped up. "Look out, Mr Frewen," I whispered; "powder again!" For the rustling noise had been made by Jarette, who had crept along unnoticed till he could plant a powder-bag, and as I glanced out I saw that he was rapidly laying a train by drawing a second bag of powder after him as he stepped rapidly back towards another man who was carrying a lighted lanthorn--lighted, I felt sure, though in the brilliant sunshine the flicker of the candle inside was hardly visible. "Quick," I said; "draw open the door a little more." As I spoke I tried to pull the chest away upon which we had been having our meal, but I could not move it, as it was against Mr Frewen's legs, and kept the door from being opened sufficiently wide in that narrow space for me to pass out. "Oh, quick--quick!" I whispered. "Anything the matter there?" cried Mr Brymer. "No, sir, no, sir," said Mr Frewen. "Keep back there, everybody. Now, Dale, up on end with it." I stooped down, and we quickly lifted the chest on its end, dragged the door a little way, but not far, for the chest still impeded it.