Becoming every moment more impressed with the conviction that this was my duty, I separated myself as far as I could from my companions, and, watching an opportunity, said, in a low tone, to the mate of the vessel, whom a chance movement brought close to where I stood—­

“Mischief going on.  Could I have a moment’s private speech of the captain?”

The man stared at me for an instant with a look of non-comprehension, as I thought; and, without saying a word, he then resumed the little piece of duty he had been engaged in when I interrupted him, and immediately after went away, still without speaking, and indeed without taking any further notice of me.

I now thought he had either not understood me, or was not disposed to pay any attention to what I said.  I was mistaken in my conjectures, and in one of them did injustice to his intelligence.

A moment after he left me I saw the captain come out of the cabin, and look hard at me for a second or two.  I observed him then despatch the steward towards me.  On that person’s approach—­

“I say, my lad,” he exclaimed, so as to be heard by the rest of the convicts on deck, “can you wipe glasses and clean knives, eh? or brush shoes, or anything of that kind?”

Not knowing his real purpose in thus addressing me, I said I had no experience in that sort of employment, but would do the best I could.

“Oh, if you be willing,” he said, “we’ll soon make you able.  I want a hand just now; so come aft with me, and I’ll find you work, and show you how to do it too.”

I followed him to the cabin; but I had not been there a minute when the captain came down, and, taking me into a state room, said—­

“Well, my lad, what’s all this?  You wanted a private word of me, and hinted to the mate that you knew of some mischief going on amongst the convicts.  What is it?”

I told him of the secret whisperings at night I had overheard, and of the discourse Norcot had held with me; mentioning, besides, several expressions which I thought pointed to a secret conspiracy of some kind or other.

The captain was of the same opinion, and after thanking me for my information, and telling me that he would take care that the part I had acted should operate to my advantage on our arrival in the colony, he desired me to take no notice of what had passed, but to mingle with my associates as formerly, and to leave the whole matter to him.

To cover appearances, I was subsequently detained in the steward’s room for about a couple of hours, when I was sent back to my former quarters; not, however, without having been well entertained by the steward, by the captain’s orders.

What intermediate steps the captain took I do not know, but on that night Norcot and other ten of the most desperate of the convicts were thrown into irons.

Subsequent inquiry discovered a deep-laid plot to surprise the guard, seize their arms, murder the captain and crew and all who resisted, and take possession of the ship.