Part 46 (1/2)

”Nothing, nothing,” he said aloud. ”Go on.”

”Oh, there's nothing more to tell. I found a winding channel by sounding from the schooner's boat with an eighteen-foot bamboo,” said the captain loudly; and then, as Sir Humphrey was speaking to Briscoe, he bent forward to pick up a biscuit, and whispered to Brace:

”What was it, my lad?”

”Half the guns and rifles have been taken away! and I think they're hidden behind those bushes close to the boats.”

”Very likely,” said the captain, without moving a muscle. ”All right, sir, all right. My lads have got gold dust in their eyes, and can't see right. We'll dust it out of 'em by-and-by.”

The by-and-by was not long after, for the captain suddenly cried out:

”Now, my lads, lighten the cutter all you can. Jem, you and three more will man her. Like to come with me, Mr Brace?”

”Yes, I'll come,” said the young man firmly, and he gazed anxiously at the men to see what was to happen next.

Nothing. No one stirred till the captain sprang to his feet.

”Did you hear me?” he roared.

For answer the crew cl.u.s.tered together on the sh.o.r.e, and there was a quick whispering, several of the men urging Jem to speak.

This he did at last, desperately, his words following one another in a hurried way.

”We've been thinking, captain, that now we've found plenty of gold we don't want to go no farther up this here river.”

”Oh! have you?” cried the captain sarcastically; ”_we_ have? You mean you have, my lad. Well, it was very kind of you, but you see these gentlemen say that though we've found plenty of gold they would like to go a bit farther, so tumble into the boat at once, and don't you ever speak to me again like that, or maybe you'll be saying more and getting yourself into trouble.”

”That's all very well, captain,” said the man, after a desperate glance at his messmates; ”but we think, all of us, that it won't do to leave all this gold. There's a fortune apiece for us, you and all, so we're going to--”

”Lighten that boat, I say!” roared the captain, making a rush at the man, who was, however, too quick, for he darted aside and ran back behind his fellow-mutineers.

”Bring that fellow here,” shouted the captain, to the two mates, and Dellow and Lynton stepped forward at once, as if to seize the sailor and drag him to the captain's feet.

But the men stood firm, closing in round their chosen leader, backing away the while, and suddenly making a dash for the bushes close to the boats. The evolution was well performed and showed that it had been carefully thought out, for the next minute six of the men disappeared, and after stooping down came again to the front, each carrying a gun or rifle, while the other six darted behind them to arm themselves with boathooks and bamboos.

”Just you keep off, Mr Dellow, and you too, Mr Lynton, and you won't be hurt,” cried Jem fiercely. ”If you do come on, mind, it's your own fault if you get a charge of shot through you.”

At this moment Brace made for his gun, but the captain shouted at him.

”No, no!” he roared; ”we don't want anything of that kind, sir. I can bring my lads to reason without guns. Here, you sirs, throw down those tools, or it will be the worse for you. Do you hear?”

”Yes, and it'll be the worse for you, captain, it you don't keep back.

Stand fast, lads. It's to make us rich men for life.”

”It's to make you convicts, you dogs,” roared the captain. ”Now, my lads, let 'em have it.”

”They're four to one, Brace,” cried Sir Humphrey, through his clenched teeth. ”I can't stand this. Come on.”

”You might ask me to chip in,” said Briscoe fiercely; ”I'm coming all the same.”