The South Sea Whaler | Page 9

hours of the night, especially
when there is a change of weather; and the mate was heard at that
moment ordering the watch on deck to shorten sail. Captain Tredeagle
did not interfere, but allowing the mate to give the necessary orders,
waited till the topgallant-sails were furled and two reefs taken in the
topsails. He then went across to where Mr Shobbrok was standing.

"Walter has told me what the men intend doing," he said in a low voice.
"Do you try and find out who are likely to prove stanch to us."
"I think we may trust nearly half the crew," answered the mate; "and I
will try and speak to those on whom we can most certainly rely. Tidy
will be able to point them out."
"In case they should attempt anything immediately, here are the means
of defending yourself," said the captain; and finding that none of the
men were observing him, he put a brace of pistols into the mate's
hands.
"Who is at the helm?" he asked.
"Tom Hulk," answered the mate.
"He is among the ringleaders," said the captain; "he will be suspicious
if he sees us talking together. I'll warn Beak, that he may be on the alert,
and will send him to speak with you."
The captain crossed the deck to where Mr Beak, the fourth mate, was
standing. Telling him of the conspiracy which had been discovered, he
put a pistol into his hand, and desired him to go over and speak with the
first mate, who would direct him what to do. On returning below, he
found that Walter and Nub had carried out his orders, and that Mr
Lawrie had awakened the other two mates, who soon made their
appearance in the cabin. Two midshipmen, or rather apprentices, who
slept further forward, had now to be warned. Nub undertook to do this
without exciting the suspicion of the mutineers. The captain in the
meantime gave the officers the information he had received, and told
them the plan he proposed following,--assuring them that they had only
to be on the alert and to remain firm, and that he had no doubt, should
the mutineers proceed to extremities, they would soon be put down; no
one, however, felt inclined to turn in again, not knowing at what
moment the mutiny might break out. Had the boatswain and his
companions guessed that Tidy had overheard their conversation, they
would have lost no time in carrying out their plan, and would probably
have caught the captain unprepared.

The night passed quietly away, and when morning came the mutineers
went about their duty as usual. Notwithstanding the threatenings of a
gale on the previous evening, the wind continued fair and moderate,
and the ship was standing on under all sail.
Breakfast was over, and the captain and mate, with Walter, were
standing with their sextants in hand taking an observation to ascertain
the ship's latitude. Mr Lawrie having been in his surgery mixing some
medicines for two men who were on the sick-list, was going forward
when he observed a number of the crew with capstan-bars,
boat-stretchers, and other weapons in their hands, the boatswain and
Tom Hulk being among them. He at once hurried to the captain and
told him what he had seen.
"Call aft the men whom we selected as a guard, Mr Shobbrok,"
whispered the captain--"Let the officers arm themselves, but keep out
of sight in the cabin, ready to act if necessary."
The mate had agreed on a private signal with the trustworthy men. He
was to let fly the mizzen-royal, when they were to come aft on the
pretence of hauling in the sheet. This would give them the start of the
mutineers, and allow them time to obtain arms,--though of course the
object of the device would quickly be perceived.
The captain and Walter went on taking their observation full in sight of
the crew forward, as if there were nothing to trouble them. The mate
made the signal agreed on. As the sail fluttered in the wind, Dan Tidy
and eight others came running aft, and immediately the muskets, which
had already been loaded, were handed up from below and placed in
their hands. So quick had been their movements that the mutineers,
who had been looking at the captain, had not observed them; and,
confiding in their numbers, and not knowing that the officers were
armed or prepared for them, came rushing aft, led by the boatswain,
uttering loud shouts, to intimidate their opponents. The captain stood
perfectly calm, with Walter by his side.
"What does this strange conduct mean, my men?" he asked, turning
round.

"We will show you, captain," answered the boatswain. "We want a
captain who understands his own interest and ours, and won't