PI ANNING A MUTINY. 295 



he has the midwatch upon deck," said a Scotch- 

 man, between whom and the mate there was 

 a standing grudge. 



" And the skipper wouldn't give us much trouble. 

 Only bring the vessel in the wind once, and he'd 

 rush right into our arms. 



" And then just think that this little craft and 

 by all that's good, she's the smartest and prettiest 

 little thing that ever I saw just think that she'll 

 be our own." 



" Look out ; here comes the mate," said I seeing 

 that worthy approach. So the conversation was 

 closed for the time. I did not sleep, that afternoon 

 watch. I had sufficient subject for thought. It 

 was evident that although the matter of a mutiny 

 had been broached at noon in a kind of semi-joc- 

 ular way, there was that in the hearts of some 

 which it would require but an accidental excess 

 on the captain's part to fan into a flame of action. 

 How to prevent this was now a matter for very 

 serious consideration. 



To withold my consent would perhaps have 

 some influence on their actions for although 1 

 was physically the slightest of our crew, they had 

 a)l somehow got a liking for me. But this would 

 5-ot answer all objections. After a couple of hours 

 study, it finally occurred to me that the whole 

 plan was certainly not yet matured, and I deter- 

 mined to hinder its farther progress, by showing 

 up as clearly as I could its impracticability. 



That evening in the dog watch, a young lad waa 



