"I'm doin' my best," said the furious man of science, "and I beg you will speak to me civilly." "I'll speak to you how I like," said Prowse; "didn't I tell you a while back as you wasn't a passenger no more, but one of my crew?" "Sir," said the geologist, "I beg that you will be so good as to refrain from speaking to me. I am not accustomed to be talked to in that tone." Captain Prowse gasped, and, walking hurriedly to the side, endeavoured to pull a fixed belaying-pin from the rail. After three or four trials he came to a loose one. By this time the _Kamma Funder_ was yawing all abroad, and when Captain Prowse came towards the wheel again, the geologist let go, and in his turn sought for a weapon. The captain caught the wheel in time to prevent the vessel getting right aback, and roared: "Mutiny, mutiny!" Simpkins and the scientific association came running aft. "Simpkins," shrieked Prowse, "ketch hold of that geological chap." "I dare either of you to touch me," said the geologist; "the first one that does, I'll brain him!" He held the iron pin firmly, and looked desperate. "Come and ketch hold of the wheel," said Prowse, in a choking voice. "No, don't let him," said the offender, and a violent argument arose. "This is perfectly scandalous," said the meek astronomer, "and----" "We won't put up with it," cried the entomologist. "I must obey orders," said Simpkins. "Or I'll murder you," screamed the skipper. "If he lets go she'll be took aback," said Simpkins, "and it'll be a lot of trouble." "We don't care," said the men of science, and then the captain let go and rushed for the geologist. Simpkins broke from the astronomer and caught the spinning wheel just as the geologist knocked the captain down. "Oh," cried the pathologist, "I believe you've killed him." "I hope so," said the hero of the occasion, with rather a pale face, "I'm not going to be bullied by any coarse brute of a sailor." "But he's the captain," said Simpkins. But mutiny was in their hearts. They all talked at once, and the pathologist felt the captain's skull to see whether it was still sound. "Will he die?" "No," said the doctor, "he has a skull like a ram's. Take him below." "And lock him in," said the astronomer. "And we can argue with him through the door." It was a happy thought, and even Simpkins, in spite of his ingrained respect for the lawful authority of the most lawless skipper, approved the suggestion. "You ain't all so soft as you look," said Simpkins, "but the sea does bring the devil out in a man if so be he's got any." And they carried Captain Joseph Prowse down below. As his cabin door would not lock, they jammed short pieces of sawed lumber between it and the other side of the alley way. "It's mutiny," said Simpkins, "but it's done, and maybe he'll cool off when he comes to and finds his 'ead aching." But nevertheless the situation was not pleasant, and no one was quite certain as to what should be done.