But while these dreadful events were occurring, what had become of those who had been so lately rescued from a terrible fate on the raft? Had they suffered one still more terrible by the hands of their own countrymen? Paul Gerrard was asleep in his hammock when he heard a voice calling him. It was that of old James Croxton.
“Turn out, Paul,” he said, “there is some fearful work going forward on deck, and I know not who may be the sufferers. We may save some of them, though.”
Paul was on his feet and dressed in an instant.
“What is to be done?” he asked.
“Mr Devereux is in danger; we might save him,” said the old man. “The people are gone mad. Come along.”
Paul followed Croxton to the sick bay. Devereux had heard the disturbance, and from the expressions uttered by the men as they passed, feared that an attack was being made on the officers of the ship. He was endeavouring to get up for the purpose of joining the officers, and sharing their fate, whatever that might be. O’Grady was still asleep. Croxton guessed what Devereux was about to do.
“It’s of no use, sir—they’ll only murder you with the rest,” he whispered: “you must keep out of their way till they’re cool. Rouse up Mr O’Grady, Paul, and come along.”
Saying this, the old man, with a strength scarcely to be expected, lifted up Devereux, and carried, rather than led him, down to the hold. Paul, meantime, had awakened O’Grady, who, though not comprehending what had occurred, followed him mechanically. The two midshipmen found themselves stowed away in total darkness among chests and casks containing stores of various sorts.
“The crew have mutinied, there’s no doubt about that,” answered old Jim to an inquiry made by Devereux; “but we will go and face them, they will not harm either the boy or me. Don’t you speak, though, or make the slightest sound; they’ll think that you are hove overboard with the rest.”
These words confirmed the midshipmen’s worst apprehensions. They had no time to ask questions, before the old man, taking Paul by the hand, hurried away. Paul and his companion reached the deck unobserved. The mutineers were all too eager in the desperate work in which they had engaged to remark them. At that moment Paul saw his friends Reuben Cole and the young Frenchman, Alphonse, with some of the inferior and petty officers, dragged forward by the mutineers. Hargraves was the chief speaker.