226 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

as not to know how to keep my nose out of this scrape,
I’ve still sense enough left to see there’s no use kickin’
now, an’ I’m willin’ to take my dose like a man.”

«Are you badly wounded ?”

“T don’t know as to that, sir. I hope I’ve got as much
as will serve me out, for it ain’t pleasant to think of
what ’s certain to come,” and Bart stood before the young
captain like a man from whom all hope has departed.

Bob picked up the knives as if fancying the mutineers
might attempt to regain possession of them, and Ben
turned to the second coolie, who was standing with his
back against the rail, the blood from the wound in his
shoulder staining the deck a brilliant crimson.

« Are you ready to submit with as good a grace as your
mate has?” Ben asked, sternly.

“Never!” the man hissed. “I’ll follow Isdra first,”
and, before either Ben or Bob could interpose, he had
swung himself over the rail by aid of the uninjured arm,
disappearing beneath the waves to reappear a moment
later far astern in the wake of the brig he had attempted
to destroy.

“Tf them two had done that same bloomin’ thing before
they come aboard this ’ere craft, we shouldn’t have had
so much trouble,” Bob said, turning to gaze after the
drowning man.

At this moment, Sam, who had risen to his feet when
the first coolie leaped from the shrouds, gave vent to a
shout of triumph, and Miss Dunham appeared by his side
looking thoroughly astonished that the recapture of the