"You ought to be careful of those prisoners."
"What do you mean?"
"They are numerous, and you give them free run of the ship."
"Where is the danger?"
"Suppose they were to mutiny?"
Farragut laughed, but there was a little uneasiness in the laugh, for he had thought of the same thing.
When he returned to the Essex that night he hesitated whether to tell the captain of his fears or not, but he decided that he would only be laughed at, so he held his peace.
It so happened that Captain Vernon was to stay all night on board the Essex, as the guest of Captain Porter, and Farragut was glad, for he thought that even one extra man on board would be of use in case of mutiny.
With these thoughts on his mind he threw himself in his hammock and was soon asleep.