This disgraceful exhibition of cowardice was _almost_ successful in winning for Walford an ignominious release. The mutineers were so unutterably disgusted that, for a moment, their impulse was to kick him out of the cabin like a craven hound and henceforward ignore his existence. But this impulse lasted only for a moment; they recalled to mind the insolent arrogance with which this same cowering creature had treated them when he deemed himself secure from retaliation; and they determined that, while his miserable life was not worth the taking, he should still receive so salutary a lesson as should effectually deter him from any repetition of the offence for the remainder of his life. "Well, shipmates," exclaimed Rogers, breaking the painful silence which had followed Walford's shameful appeal, "what d'ye think? Is the pris'ner guilty or not guilty?" "_Guilty_!" was the unanimous declaration of the assembly. "Guilty? In course he is. And what's the punishment to be? Death?" "Oh, no! Not death--not death, gentlemen. For the love of God, spare my life; I am not fit to die; I am not indeed. You see how young a man I am; why, I have never yet thought about dying. Mercy! mercy!" shrieked the miserable wretch as he grovelled on his knees before them, and sought to clasp the knees of the man nearest him--an attempt which was repulsed with an oath, a look of unutterable loathing, a kick, and a brutal blow on the mouth. "Come, lads, speak up," urged Rogers, wholly unmoved by the interruption, "say what the punishment's to be, and let's have done with it. I'm sick of this here, I am." "Well," said Talbot, stepping forward, "I wotes that the prisoner be first made to go and axe poor Dicky's pardon. If he can't get it, why, let's string him up at the yard-arm to balance t'other one. But if Dicky likes to forgi'e him, well, we'll spare his life and redooce his punishment to two dozen at the gangway--same as he got for Rudd--and make him do Rudd's dooty 'til the poor chap's better; arter which the prisoner can be set to do all the dirty work o' the ship. How's that, shipmates?" "Ay, ay, Ben; that'll do, bo', that'll do fust-rate. And he may thank his lucky stars at bein' let off so precious easy," was Rogers' reply; in which the remainder of the men laughingly acquiesced. "Then you'd better step this way at once, young feller," remarked Talbot to the miserable Walford, "and see what you can do with poor Dicky. If he won't forgive yer, mind, it's all up with yer." So saying he opened the door of the state-room in which Rudd was lying, thrust his victim into the apartment, and closed the door upon him.