“It couldn’t be done,” he said in a half-whisper. “Word has been passed that none of the crew are to come aft even so far as the break of the deck, without being summoned, and the third officer stands there, holding for dear life on the mizzen-shrouds, lest the heavy waves sweep him over the rail, to stop any who dare make the venture.”
“I should have tried it at all hazards. There isn’t an officer on board who would have prevented you from gaining speech with your father.”
“That was what I believed, but soon learned my mistake. The boatswain pulled me back, and when I told him that I must speak with the captain at once on important business, he swore he’d put me in irons if I didn’t go forward.”
“What is the meaning of such orders?” I asked, indignantly, and Simon whispered in my ear:
“Master Joshua told me the port watch had sworn the ship should be put about without loss of time, and were making for the quarter-deck when the captain and two of the mates drove them back at the point of their pistols. It’s little less than mutiny, and the men openly admit as much.”
“But surely you wouldn’t be mistaken for a mutineer!”
“The third officer and the boatswain must obey orders, and you know full well that I don’t count as being the captain’s son while we’re members of the crew.”
Surely the situation must be serious if such precautions had been taken, and I said to myself that the cruise was indeed likely to be ended very shortly, omens or no omens, unless there was a speedy change in affairs.
Then, after a pause, and rather for the sake of continuing a conversation than because I had any real curiosity regarding the matter, I asked: