the water below him； and the Tap tap； Tap tap； of Pine's hammers at work upon the new partition。 By and by the noise of these hammers ceased； and then the sick man could hear gasps； and moans； and mutteringsthe signs that his companions yet lived。
All at once a voice called out； 〃Of course his bills are worth four hundred pounds； but； my good sir； four hundred pounds to a man in my position is not worth the getting。 Why； I've given four hundred pounds for a freak of my girl Sarah！ Is it right； eh； Jezebel？ She's a good girl； though； as girls go。 Mrs。 Lionel Crofton； of the Crofts； Sevenoaks； KentSevenoaks； KentSeven〃
A gleam of light broke in on the darkness which wrapped Rufus Dawes's tortured brain。 The man was John Rex； his berth mate。 With an effort he spoke。
〃Rex！〃
〃Yes； yes。 I'm coming； don't be in a hurry。 The sentry's safe； and the howitzer is but five paces from the door。 A rush upon deck； lads； and she's ours！ That is； mine。 Mine and my wife's； Mrs。 Lionel Crofton； of Seven Crofts； no oaksSarah Purfoy； lady's…maid and nurseha！ ha！lady's…maid and nurse！〃
This last sentence contained the name…clue to the labyrinth in which Rufus Dawes's bewildered intellects were wandering。 〃Sarah Purfoy！〃 He remembered now each detail of the conversation he had so strangely overheard； and how imperative it was that he should； without delay； reveal the plot that threatened the ship。 How that plot was to be carried out； he did not pause to consider； he was conscious that he was hanging over the brink of delirium； and that； unless he made himself understood before his senses utterly deserted him； all was lost。
He attempted to rise； but found that his fever…thralled limbs refused to obey the impulse of his will。 He made an effort to speak； but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth； and his jaws stuck together。 He could not raise a finger nor utter a sound。 The boards over his head waved like a shaken sheet； and the cabin whirled round； while the patch of light at his feet bobbed up and down like the reflection from a wavering candle。 He closed his eyes with a terrible sigh of despair； and resigned himself to his fate。 At that instant the sound of hammering ceased； and the door opened。 It was six o'clock； and Pine had come to have a last look at his patients before dinner。 It seemed that there was somebody with him； for a kind； though somewhat pompous； voice remarked upon the scantiness of accommodation； and the 〃necessitythe absolute necessity〃 of complying with the King's Regulations。
Honest Vickers； though agonized for the safety of his child； would not abate a jot of his duty； and had sternly come to visit the sick men； aware as he was that such a visit would necessitate his isolation from the cabin where his child lay。 Mrs。 Vickersweeping and bewailing herself coquettishly at garrison partieshad often said that 〃poor dear John was such a disciplinarian； quite a slave to the service。〃
〃Here they are；〃 said Pine； 〃six of 'em。 This fellow〃going to the side of Rex〃is the worst。 If he had not a constitution like a horse； I don't think he could live out the night。〃
〃Three； eighteen； seven； four；〃 muttered Rex； 〃dot and carry one。 Is that an occupation for a gentleman？ No； sir。 Good night； my lord； good night。 Hark！ The clock is striking nine； five； six； seven； eight！ Well； you've had your day； and can't complain。〃
〃A dangerous fellow；〃 says Pine； with the light upraised。 〃A very dangerous fellowthat is； he was。 This is the place； you seea regular rat…hole； but what can one do？〃
〃Come； let us get on deck；〃 said Vickers； with a shudder of disgust。
Rufus Dawes felt the sweat break out into beads on his forehead。 They suspected nothing。 They were going away。 He must warn them。 With a violent effort； in his agony he turned over in the bunk and thrust out his hand from the blankets。
〃Hullo！ what's this？〃 cried Pine； bringing the lantern to bear upon it。 〃Lie down； my man。 Eh！water； is it？ There； steady with it now〃； and he lifted a pannikin to the blackened； froth…fringed lips。 The cool draught moistened his parched gullet； and the convict made a last effort to speak。
〃Sarah Purfoyto…nightthe prisonMUTINY！〃
The last word； almost shrieked out； in the sufferer's desperate efforts to articulate； recalled the wandering senses of John Rex。
〃Hush！〃 he cried。 〃Is that you； Jemmy？ Sarah's right。 Wait till she gives the word。〃
〃He's raving；〃 said Vickers。
Pine caught the convict by the shoulder。 〃What do you say； my man？ A mutiny of the prisoners！〃
With his mouth agape and his hands clenched； Rufus Dawes； incapable of further speech； made a last effort to nod assent； but his head fell upon his breast； the next moment； the flickering light； the gloomy prison； the eager face of the doctor； and the astonished face of Vickers； vanished from before his straining eyes。 He saw the two men stare at each other； in mingled incredulity and alarm； and then he was floating down the cool brown river of his boyhood； on his wayin company with Sarah Purfoy and Lieutenant Frereto raise the mutiny of the Hydaspes； that lay on the stocks in the old house at Hampstead。
CHAPTER IX。 WOMAN'S WEAPONS。
The two discoverers of this awkward secret held a council of war。 Vickers was for at once calling the guard； and announcing to the prisoners that the plotwhatever it might behad been discovered； but Pine； accustomed to convict ships； overruled this decision。
〃You don't know these fellows as well as I do；〃 said he。 〃In the first place there may be no mutiny at all。 The whole thing is； perhaps； some absurdity of that fellow Dawesand should we once put the notion of attacking us into the prisoners' heads； there is no telling what they might do。〃
〃But the man seemed certain；〃 said the other。 〃He mentioned my wife's maid； too！〃
〃Suppose he did？and； begad； I dare say he's rightI never liked the look of the girl。 To tell them that we have found them out this time won't prevent 'em trying it again。 We don't know what their scheme is either。 If it is a mutiny； half the ship's company may be in it。 No； Captain Vickers； allow me； as surgeon…superintendent； to settle our course of action。 You are aware that〃
〃That； by the King's Regulations； you are invested with full powers；〃 interrupted Vickers； mindful of discipline in any extremity。 〃Of course； I merely suggestedand I know nothing about the girl； except that she brought a good character from her last mistressa Mrs。 Crofton I think the name was。 We were glad to get anybody to make a voyage like this。〃
〃Well；〃 says Pine； 〃look here。 Suppose we tell these scoundrels that their design； whatever it may be； is known。 Very good。 They will profess absolute ignorance； and try again on the next opportunity； when； perhaps； we may not know anything about it。 At all events； we are completely ignorant of the nature of the plot and the names of the ringleaders。 Let us double the sentries； and quietly get the men under arms。 Let Miss Sarah do what she pleases； and when the mutiny breaks out； we will nip it in the bud； clap all the villains we get in irons； and hand them over to the authorities in Hobart Town。 I am not a cruel man； sir； but we have got a cargo of wild beasts aboard； and we must be careful。〃
〃But surely； Mr。 Pine； have you considered the probable loss of life？ Ireallysome more humane course perhaps？ Prevention； you know〃
Pine turned round upon him with that grim practicality which was a part of his nature。 〃Have you considered the safety of the ship； Captain Vickers？ You know； or have heard of； the sort of things that take place in these mutinies。 Have you considered what will befall those half…dozen women in the soldiers' berths？ Have you thought of the fate of your own wife and child？〃
Vickers shuddered。
〃Have it your way； Mr。 Pine； you know best perhaps。 But don't risk more lives than you can help。〃
〃Be easy； sir；〃 says old Pine； 〃I am acting for the best； upon my soul I am。 You don't know what convicts are； or rather what the law has made 'emyet〃
〃Poor wretches！〃 says Vickers； who； like many martinets； was in reality tender…hearted。 〃Kindness might do much for them。 After all； they are our fellow…creatures。〃
〃Yes；〃 returned the other； 〃they are。 But if you use that argument to them when they have taken the vessel； it won't avail you much。 Let me manage； sir； and for God's sake； say nothing to anybody。 Our lives may hang upon a word。〃
Vickers promised； and kept his promise so far as to chat cheerily with Blunt and Frere at dinner； only writing a brief note to his wife to tell her that； whatever she heard； she was not to stir from her cabin until he came to her； he knew that； with all his wife's folly； she would obey unhesitatingly； when he couched an order in such terms。
According to the usual custom on board convict ships； the guards relieved each other every two hours； and at six p。m。 the poop guard was removed to the quarter…deck； and the arms which； in the daytime； were disposed on the top of the arm…chest； were placed in an arm…rack constructed on the quarter…deck for that purpose。 Trusting nothing to Frerewho； indeed； by Pine's advice； was； as we have seen； kept in ignorance of the whole matterVickers ordered all the men； save those who had been on guard during the day； to be under arms in the barrack； forbade communication with the upper deck； and placed as sentry at the barrack door his own servant； an old soldier； on whose fidelity he could thoroughly rely。 He then doubled the guards； took the keys of the prison himself from the non…commissioned officer whose duty it was to keep them； and saw that the howitzer on the lower deck was loaded with grape。 It was a quarter to seven when Pine and he took their station at the main hatchway； determined to watch until morning。
At a quarter past seven； any curious person looking through the window of Captain Blunt's cabin would have seen an unusual sight。 That gallant commander was sitting on the bed…place； with a glass of rum and water in his hand； and the handsome waiting…maid of Mrs。 Vickers was seated on a stool by his side。 At a first glance it was perceptible that the captain was very drunk。 His grey hair was matte