Even to-day the little of our gear that has to be left standing
aroused their curiosity. Head after head showed over the edge of the
for'ard-house as they peeped and peered and tried to make out what we
were up to. Why, I find myself almost looking forward to an attack
in order to see the device work.
CHAPTER XLV
And what has happened to Mr. Pike remains a mystery. For that
matter, what has happened to the second mate? In the past three days
we have by our eyes taken the census of the mutineers. Every man has
been seen by us with the sole exception of Mr. Mellaire, or Sidney
Waltham, as I assume I must correctly name him. He has not appeared-
-does not appear; and we can only speculate and conjecture.
In the past three days various interesting things have taken place.
Margaret stands watch and watch with me, day and night, the clock
around; for there is no one of our retainers to whom we can entrust
the responsibility of a watch. Though mutiny obtains and we are
besieged in the high place, the weather is so mild and there is so
little call on our men that they have grown careless and sleep aft of
the chart-house when it is their watch on deck.
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