Part 7 (1/2)

”Vengeance! vengeance!” was the cry

The first-lieutenant who ventured a, hove overboard Others who appeared met with the same fate

The mutineers then rushed to the captain's cabin He stood fiercely at bay, but in vain Bleeding froh the stern port His last words were, ”Vengeance! vengeance! vengeance!”

Fearfully it was paid

CHAPTER FOUR

The deed of blood was not yet co more minutely than is necessary into the horrible details of the massacre which followed the death of the captain It is a proof of the evil passions which dithin the bosoms of men, and sho those passions may be worked up by tyranny and injustice to make men commit deeds at which, in their calmer ledbravely by the side of one of the lieutenants, as at length cut down

”Will you swear not to utter a word of what you have seen done to-day?”

exclairaves, a quartermaster, as one of the leaders of the mutineers, if any could be called leaders, where all seeeful spirit The brave boy, as he stood leaning on his sword, looked undaunted at Hargraves and at those standing round him

”Swear--no!” he exclaiht to justice, as you will be some day, I will say that you were cowardlymen; that you threw others, still alive, overboard, and that you eons who had cured the wounded, and tended the sick like brothers I'll say that you butchered one of er than myself; I'll--!”

”Overboard with hiraves, who had just cut down the lieutenant, and see once tasted blood, thirsts for ued and wounded, raised his weapon to defend hiraves rushed at the boy, who in an instant afterwards lay writhing at his feet

”Heave the carcase overboard It is the way some of us have been treated, you know that,forerly seized on by the ravenous sharks, waiting for their prey supplied by the savage cruelty of man Many even of the raves turned fiercely round on them--

”Ye none of you cried shame when the captain did the same--cowards! why did ye not do it then? Were the lives of our brave fellows of less value than the life of that young cub?”

The men were silenced, but the eyes of an from that moment bitterly to repent the cruel deed of which they had been guilty Oh! if they could have recalled the dead, how gladly would they have done so,--their officers, who, if they had sometimes acted harshly, were brave men and countrymen; even the captain, tyrant as he was, they wished that they could see once more on his quarter-deck, with the dreadful scene which had been enacted wiped away; but the deed had been done--no power could obliterate it They had been participators in the bloody work It stood recorded against them in the imperishable books of Heaven Blood had been spilt, and blood was to cry out against them and to deazing stupidly at each other; the helm had been deserted, the wind had fallen, the sails were flapping lazily against theslowly round and round towards the different points of the co ate floated on the broad ocean What if they should fall in with another British ive of the that she had foundered, while they had escaped in the boats, but the boats would not hold them all, and could they trust each other? What likelihood that all would adhere to the same tale? Was it probable that all the crew should have escaped, and not an officer with theht separate, to be sure, but to what lands could they direct their different courses? On what shore, inhabited by countrymen, dared they place their feet without fear of detection? Discussions loud and long took place It was agreed that the shi+p should be carried to a Spanish port; sold, if the sale could be effected, and with the proceeds and with such valuables as the murdered officers possessed, they would separate in various directions, and by changing their names, avoid all chance of discovery

But while these dreadful events were occurring, what had become of those who had been so lately rescued from a terrible fate on the raft? Had they suffered one still more terrible by the hands of their own countrymen? Paul Gerrard was asleep in his ha him It was that of old James Croxton

”Turn out, Paul,” he said, ”there is so forward on deck, and I know not who h”

Paul was on his feet and dressed in an instant

”What is to be done?” he asked

”Mr Devereux is in danger; we one ”

Paul followed Croxton to the sick bay Devereux had heard the disturbance, and from the expressions uttered by theet up for the purpose of joining the officers, and sharing their fate, whatever that uessed what Devereux was about to do

”It's of no use, sir--they'll only murder you with the rest,” he whispered: ”you must keep out of their way till they're cool Rouse up Mr O'Grady, Paul, and coth scarcely to be expected, lifted up Devereux, and carried, rather than led him, down to the hold

Paul,what had occurred, followed him mechanically The two midshi+p chests and casks containing stores of various sorts