“Next, as to numbers.  Excluding Captain Holding—­now dead—­and including the cook I reckoned that there were fourteen hands on board.  Of these, five were sick and probably at this moment barricaded in the forecastle.  One, the carpenter, was lying here dead, and from the shriek which preceded the captain’s cry, another had already been accounted for by the mutineers.

“This reduced the number to eight.  The next question was, how many were the mutineers?  I had guessed at once that Colliver and Railton had a hand in the business, for (in addition to my previous distrust of the men) it was just upon midnight when we heard the first cry, that is to say, the time when the watch was changed, and I knew that these two belonged to the captain’s watch.  But could they be alone?

“It seemed impossible, and yet I knew no others among the crew to distrust, and certainly Davis, who was acting as mate at present, was, although an indifferent navigator, as true as steel.  Moreover, the fact that the mutineers’ success in shooting the doctor had not been followed up, made my guess seem more likely.  Certainly Colliver and Railton were the only two of whom we could be sure as yet.  Nevertheless the supposition was amazing.

“I had arrived at this point in my calculations when a yell which I recognised, told me that they had caught Cox the helmsman and were murdering him.  After this came dead silence, which lasted all through the night.

“I must hasten to conclude this, for we have no light in the cabin, and I am writing now by the faint evening rays that struggle in through the sky-light.  As soon as morning broke I determined to reconnoitre.  Cautiously removing the barricade, I opened the cabin door and stole up the companion ladder.  Arrived at the top I peered cautiously over and saw the mutineers sitting by the forward hatch, drinking.  They were altogether four in number—­Colliver, Railton, a seaman called Rogerson, who had lately been punished by Captain Holding for sleeping when on watch, and the cook, a Chinaman.  Rogerson was not with the rest, but had hold of the wheel and was steering.  The vessel at the time was sailing under crowded canvas before a stiff sou’-westerly breeze.  I kept low lest Rogerson should see me, but he was obviously more than half drunk, and was chiefly occupied in regarding his comrades with anything but a pleasant air.  Just as I was drawing a beautiful bead however, and had well covered Colliver, he saw me and gave the alarm; and immediately the three sprang to their feet and made for me, the Chinaman first.  Altering my aim I waited until he came close and then fired.  I must have hit him, I think in the ankle, for he staggered and fell with a loud cry about ten paces from me.  Seeing this, I made all speed again down the ladder, turning at the cabin door for a hasty shot with the second barrel, which, I think, missed.  The other two pursued me until I gained the cabin, and then went back to their comrade.  The rest of the day has been quite quiet.  Luckily we have a large tin of biscuits in the cabin, so as far as food goes we can hold out for some time.  Mrs. Concanen and I are going to take turns at watching to-night.