"Back, you scoundrels! Back, mutinous dogs!" exclaimed the captain in a greater rage than ever.
The solid line remained immovable, and Mont was set free.
Both mates put themselves by the captain's side, as they feared a crisis was approaching, and they determined to side with the skipper.
"Look'ee here, cappen," said an old, grizzled sailor. "I've shipped aboard o' many vessels, and I've seen a few skippers, but never the likes o' you. We don't want to do you no harm, but we aint a-goin' to stan' by and see that poor lad flogged half to death because he interfered for one o' us."
"I'll have you all tried at the first port I come to!" exclaimed the captain.
Slog, the mate, caught the captain's arm.
"For Heaven's sake, go below, and leave them to me!" he said.
"Not I. Where are my pistols? I'll shoot some of the dogs."
"Be guided by me, sir. Let them alone this time, and tackle them one by one. If you don't, they'll do something desperate."
The captain mumbled something which was inaudible. He was almost speechless with rage.