At break of day I was able to make out the body, still lying as last
I had seen it. At seven o'clock, before breakfast, and while
Margaret still slept, I sent the two boys, Henry and Buckwheat, down
to the body. I stood above them, at the rail, rifle in hand and
ready. But from for'ard came no signs of life; and the lads, between
them, rolled the crank-eyed Norwegian over so that we could recognize
him, carried him to the rail, and shoved him stiffly across and into
the sea. Wada's spear-thrust had gone clear through him.
But before twenty-four hours were up the mutineers evened the score
handsomely. They more than evened it, for we are so few that we
cannot so well afford the loss of one as they can. To begin with--
and a thing I had anticipated and for which I had prepared my bombs--
while Margaret and I ate a deck-breakfast in the shelter of the
jiggermast a number of the men sneaked aft and got under the overhang
of the poop. Buckwheat saw them coming and yelled the alarm, but it
was too late. There was no direct way to get them out.
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