It was about two bells in the afternoon watch when he made the discovery. I heard him walking rapidly up and down the deck first, as some sailors do when deep in thought. Then he came below.
“Are your pistols all ready?” he said to me.
“Yes,” I answered; “but I sincerely hope there will be no need of them.”
Then he told me what he had discovered, and that he felt sure mutiny was intended.
He broke the news as gently as possible to his wife, and gave orders that she should keep to the cabin with the ayah and the children.
Then he and I went on deck together.
As I passed the steward’s pantry I tried the door. It was locked, and I could see through the jalousies that no one was inside.
My doubts of the half-caste had become certainties.
“Call all hands, and let the men lay aft, mate!”
This was Herbert’s stern command.