“Never mind him, boy,” said Jarette, “listen to me. Look here, the game’s up with the officers, and they’re either my prisoners or as good as dead, so there’s nothing more for you to do. Now, I suppose you don’t want me to have you thrown overboard, do you?”
“Of course not.”
“Very well, then; it’s only a change in your captain, and I dare say you can be useful. What do you say to joining me?”
“What, turning mutineer and pirate?” I said boldly.
“Don’t you use ugly words, boy,” he said, with a scowl. “Come, I offer you good terms; will you join us?”
“You don’t want midshipmen,” I said, as I tried to think hard as to what I ought to do under the circumstances.
“How do you know, boy? Join us, and serve under me. It will only be like going on again with your old messmate here, and I dare say I can promote you faster than you would have been under Captain Berriman.”
“But where are we going? What do you mean to do with the ship?”
“What’s that to you? There, I offer you your chance; will you join us?”
“I would if I was you, Mr Dale, sir,” said a familiar voice, and turning my head with difficulty, there was Bob Hampton looking quite frank and honest, and as if there was not such a thing as a mutineer on the face of the earth.