"Suppose this deserter could prove his complaints against the master of that whaler," said Walter; "what would be the penalty?"
"One thousand dollars fine and five years in the state prison."
"And I hope he will get it all," said Eugene.
"Well, if it is so hard for a seaman to obtain satisfaction at law, what ought he to do when he is abused at sea?" asked Bab. "I understood you to say he had two remedies, and you have given only one."
"Well, there is another," said Frank. "He and his companions ought to club together, take the ship out of the hands of her officers, confine them in the cabin, and make for the nearest port, if they are navigators enough to find their way there."
"Yes," exclaimed Archie, "and swing for it the moment they reach the shore."
"No, sir. The case has been tried in the courts more than once, and would be tried oftener if sailors only knew their rights. As far as any risk I might run is concerned, I would not be afraid to belong to such a crew and take part in just such a proceeding."
"Well, I don't want you to get into any such scrape," said Archie; "I should never expect to see you again."
"I have no desire to win notoriety as a mutineer, I assure you," replied Frank, with a laugh. "As his Honor remarked"—here he waved his hand towards Featherweight, who bowed gravely—"I was only discoursing on sailors' rights."