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"Because I am accustomed to look death in the face, sir, when I am doing my duty, I am doing it now. Mr Denning's life is in danger. Come, sir, you will let him and his sister join us?" "In an open boat? No." "Mr Jarette." "Captain Jarette, doctor," cried the man, angrily. "Now all of you row and take this mad fellow away, before I am tempted to shoot him."
The boats came on in spite of two or three shots fired from the deck, and then, with Jarette rapidly returning our fire, they were soon close up and sheltered to a great extent. Jarette's boat came right alongside at once in the most plucky manner, urged on as the men were by their leader, who seemed utterly devoid of fear.
There were lanterns now by the big hatch in front of the main-mast, and I could see quite a group of men at whom Jarette was storming. It was a curious weird-looking scene there in the darkness, for the men's faces stood out in the lantern-light, and in spite of their fear of their leader they were laughing boisterously. "You dogs," he roared; "not a drop more. Go back to your kennel."
The faint streak of light disappeared from under the door-way, and we breathed freely again as there were heavy steps overhead, and I could tell that in all probability Jarette and the others had gone to join the man or men at the wheel. "I don't envy that madman his position, Dale," said Mr Frewen.
Bob Hampton was the some one, for we heard him defending himself loudly. "How could I help 'em to get out when I haven't left the wheel?" "But there was a rope hanging down from the spanker-boom." "I don't care if all the ropes in the ship hung down. I arn't moved. Ask them." "No, he hasn't left the wheel," said a voice. "How do you know? How could you see?" cried Jarette.
Instead of feeling that Mr Preddle was an object to excite my mirth, I felt a sensation of pity for the pleasant, amiable gentleman, and thought how helpless he must feel. "You will have to go, Dale," said Mr Brymer. "Yes," said Mr Frewen; "Dale will go for all our sakes." "When shall he go?" said the mate; "to-morrow night, after we have thrown Jarette off his guard by sailing right away?"
I soon knew, for Jarette and Walters came back, and passing the men on guard, descended to the main-deck and went forward, leaving all in darkness. "Now for it," I muttered, and with my heart beating heavily, I thrust my hand into my pocket. All right, my clasp-knife was there, and rising cautiously I stopped to think.
I had not raised my eyes from the deck, but now as I looked aloft, there was a man plainly enough, and he was, as Mr Frewen said, watching us. Directly after, I saw him descend, and we neither of us had any doubt about its being Jarette.
We all stood motionless, unable to grasp the extent of this new calamity, and listened to the yelling and shouting of the frightened men, who now broke loose entirely from the slight control Jarette had held principally by means of his revolver.
By this time the boats were right under the stern, and as I watched the lighted-up window one moment, the glistening, motionless water the next, I saw Jarette climb out, rope in hand, and glide down into the darkness. "How horrible!" I thought, as the cold perspiration gathered on my face "only a minute or two, and one of these men living, the next dead."
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