A DEMAND. IQI

not forgetting while there to arm herself with the revolver
she had previously used with such good effect at the Island
of Nampang.

“Ts the captain dead?” Mr. Bean asked, tremulously,
as she began hurriedly to bind up his wounds.

“God forbid! He has evidently been struck on the
head, and it was fortunate the blow sent him inside the
cabin instead of leaving him on the deck for the murderers
to throw overboard.”

“Don’t attend to me; but look out for him.”

« Your necessities are greater than his just now. The
flow of blood must be checked at once. Can’t you tell
these men what to do toward defending us?” she added,
referring to the two sailors who had taken refuge in
the cabin, and were now standing irresolutely beside the
injured mate.

“ Bob, you and Sam overhaul the captain to find a couple
of revolvers on him. Each take one, and then stand by the
companionways in case there is an attempt made to break
in. How many of the men are engaged in these murders?”

“JT don’t know, sir,’ Bob replied. “It came to me
about as sudden as it did to you. Them coolies made
some talk a week ago, insisting the brig should put into
St. Helena; but they never said anything more to either
Sam or me.”

“Do you think all hands but you two were in it?”

“No, sir. Poor Freeman was n't, for he got the same
kind of a knifethrust you did, and the first I knew of the
trouble was when they dropped him over the rail.”