"Release Bryan if you want us to work!" Steve called.
"I am the master of this ship!" said Murad calmly, "Bryan is in irons for disobedience. Others of the crew who refuse to obey orders will be treated as mutineers. You know the punishment for that! Holystone the decks!"
They folded their arms and stood glowering at the skipper.
"I shall starve them into submission!" Murad said to the mate.
Two days passed. The men stayed forward. The officers made no attempt to give them orders. Fortunately, the weather remained calm, and the few of us who were loyal were sufficient to handle the sails. If a tempest came, we would be in a serious situation.
"They will attack like starved wolves tonight!" said Mr. Bludsoe to Burke, Ross and myself, "I shall give each of you a pistol. Your own lives are at stake. Shoot any man of them who comes aft."
The first man who came aft, however, we did not shoot.
I was the first to catch sight of his figure stealing away from the forecastle. I fear that my voice trembled when I cried:
"Halt! Throw up your hands!"
"It's Reynolds," he said, "Take me to the skipper. I want to throw myself on his mercy. Intercede for me, lad. I've had my fill of that gang yonder!"