234 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

“TJ believe you, Bob. I am very positive I can put all
confidence in you, and intend to do so. Now tell me
what you think about letting those able-bodied mutineers
turn to and do their duty ?”

«What do I think, sir? Why, I think the curs oughter
be made to do it if it takes all hands of us to stand behind
them with a rope’s end.”

“You don’t exactly understand me. What I mean is:
Do you think we can trust them?”

«When it comes right down to that, sir, I wouldn't
trust ’em any further than I could sling a cow by the tail ;
I don’t see as there’s any cause to do that. Leave’em to
Sam an’ me, an’ they won’t do any more mutineerin’ this
voyage.”

“JT have no question of that if they can be left wholly
to you and Sam, but of course they must go into the
forecastle where Bart is, and there’s no knowing what
kind of a plot might be hatched up even now.”

“J should n’t be afeered of Bart if I was you, sir, ’cause
he’s had the heart all took out of him with that ’ere
bullet. He never had no great amount of pluck at the
best, an’ that taste of lead was enough to drive every
grain away. Do you count on carrying him any further
than Ascension ?”’

“No; not if the authorities there will take him?”

“Tt’ll be a right good job to get him out of the brig;
but at the same time I hold to it he can’t do any
harm now.”

«We'll risk it at all events. Come aft and release these