"Let them rest where they are," I replied. "They have made their own bed; let them sleep in it a while."
"But we must reef the main topsail very soon."
"We have hands enough now to do that, and to take care of our prisoners."
"Then we will do it at once."
The bark was beginning to labor again, as the fury of the gale increased. The spray dashed furiously over the prisoners, and the motion of the vessel wrenched them badly, tied as they were to the rail. Two reefs were taken in the main topsail, and again the vessel was easier. It required two men at the wheel. By the time we had finished our work it was two bells in the mid-watch, or one o'clock in the morning. Most of the crew who had been drunk were in condition to do duty now. They were sorry and ashamed when they realized the mischief to which their inebriation had exposed them, and promised not to drink any more.
We did not regard their promises; but Sanderson and I made our way to the hold, and pulling out the bungs, permitted the contents of the rum barrels to flow into the bottom of the vessel. We felt safe then, and only regretted that we had not done it before, for without rum the mutiny would have been impossible. On my way up I examined the partition between decks, and found the hole which Grego had made.
CHAPTER XXVI.
IN WHICH PHIL REACHES NEW YORK, MEETS THE GRACEWOODS, AND ABANDONS CRINGLE AND CROSS-TREE.
It was "all hands on deck" the rest of that night, and the gale came with a fury which I had never seen before. I was second mate of the bark; and, though it was not expected of me, I took the lead in reefing and furling. I was ambitious to do my whole duty, and what I lacked in experience I endeavored to make up in courage and resolution. The captain and the veteran mate gave me a great deal of credit for my exertions, and when the gale broke, I was tolerably well satisfied with myself, as boys of eighteen generally are.