“Now, what is it?” I said sharply. “What do you want?”
“You to give warning and be prepared.”
“What for?”
“There’s a plot hatching,” he whispered; “the convicts are going to rise, seize the ship, and take her to some uninhabited part, where they can all land and escape.”
“Indeed!” I said, with a chuckle; “and how are they going to manage it? I thought you were all pretty safe.”
“I don’t know, sir,” he said, “but it is a fact; and if you don’t mind there’ll be murder done.”
“Who will they murder first—you for telling tales?”
“I suppose so, sir,” he said in a low, despondent way. “I was afraid of that, but I felt that I must speak.”
“Oh, did you?” I said surlily; “and pray who’s at the head of the mutiny, and when is it to come off?”
“To-night, I think, sir.”