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"He's got your gun, sir," spoke up Wison, "an' Gawd knows he be the one as'ud

on'y be too glad for the chanct to use it."

"Let me see if I can't handle him, sir," said Theriere to Skipper Simms. "We don't

want to lose any men if we can help it."

The skipper was only too glad to welcome this unexpected rescue from the

predicament in which he had placed himself. How Theriere was to accomplish the

subjugation of the mutinous sailor he could not guess, nor did he care so long as

it was done without risk to his own skin.

"Now if you'll go away, sir," said Theriere, "and order the men away I'll see what I

can do."

Skipper Simms did as Theriere had requested, so that presently the officer stood

alone beside the hatch. Across the deck, amidships, the men had congregated to

watch Theriere's operations, while beyond them stood Barbara Harding held

fascinated by the grim tragedy that was unfolding before her upon this accursed

vessel.

Theriere leaned over the open hatch, in full view of the waiting Byrne, ready

below. There was the instant report of a firearm and a bullet whizzed close past

Theriere's head.

"Avast there, Byrne!" he shouted. "It's I, Theriere. Don't shoot again, I want to

speak to you."

No monkey business now," growled the mucker in reply. "I won't miss again."

I want to talk with you, Byrne," said Theriere in a low tone. "I'm coming down

there."

"No you ain't, cul," returned Byrne; "leastways yeh ain't a-comin' down here

alive."

"Yes I am, Byrne," replied Theriere, "and you don't want to be foolish about it. I'm

unarmed. You can cover me with your gun until you have satisfied yourself as to

that. I'm the only man on the ship that can save your life--the only man that has

any reason to want to; but we've got to talk it over and we can't talk this way

where there's a chance of being overheard. I'll be on the square with you if you

will with me, and if we can't come to terms I'll come above again and you won't be

any worse off than you are now. Here I come," and without waiting for an

acceptance of his proposition the second officer of the Halfmoon slipped over the

edge of the hatchway and disappeared from the sight of the watchers above.

The Mucker