I whispered a parting word of admonition into the ear of Dorothy, receiving in return a glance from her eyes, which gave a new throb to my heart; then straightened up, and pistol in hand, pushed my way through the throng of sailors to the foot of the stairs.

“Follow me, lads,” I said quietly, “and every man do the particular thing assigned him.  Don’t pay any attention to your mates—­do your part, and then wait for orders.  Come on now.”

We emerged through the companion, and I stepped aside as the others rushed by.  There was no shout, no cheer, the fellows seeming to realize the desperate nature of their work, and the importance of surprise.  They were outnumbered five to one, and their only hope of success lay in rendering their opponents helpless before they could rally to a defense.  All the pent-up hate of years was in their hearts, blazed madly in their eyes; they were tigers leaping at the throat of their prey, yet sane enough to comprehend even in their blood-rage that they must act together.  It was over so quickly I scarcely saw it all; my memory now is of a clear sky, a deck almost deserted, its brass work glowing in the sun, the white sails above bellowing out to the pressure of a strong wind, and the blue sea, crested with white, stretching about us in desolate grandeur.  LeVere stared down over the poop rail, behind him the motionless figure of the wheelsman, his hands gripping the spokes, while across the open deck the speeding mutineers leaped to their several posts, with bare cutlasses shining in the sun.  And they did their work.  My eyes swept from group to group—­the four toiling at the cover of the main hatch; the fellows racing toward the forecastle; and Watkins’ squad driving straight into the grouped watch beyond the foremast.  It was smartly done; Watkins had taken no cutlass, but went in with both fists, asking no questions, but battering right and left, his men surging after, with steel blades flaming in the sunlight.  The astounded watch, cursing and fighting grimly, held for a moment, and then went staggering back against the port rail, unable to stem the rush, and roaring for mercy.  I had view of Carlson dropping recklessly down the forecastle scuttle, and then sprang forward myself to give a hand to the four wrestling with the main hatch.  Together we dragged it into position, forcing relentlessly back as we did so, a dozen struggling figures frantically endeavoring to reach the deck.  Shots were fired, the bullets whistling through the opening, the flare lighting up the black depths below, revealing vaguely a mass of frantic men staring up, and cursing us fiercely in a dozen languages; but, in spite of them, we clamped the hatch down tight, and locked it securely into place with an iron bar.  Even through this cover the sound of smothered yells reached our ears, mingled with blows of gun-butts, as the fellows vainly endeavored to break out from their prison.  The negro Sam grinned from ear to ear, executing a jig, as he flashed his cutlass above his head.