I HAVE AN ANXIOUS (тревожный) DAY

 

WHILE we were talking we had slowly withdrawn among the trees (медленно исчезли среди деревьев, отошли под деревья) where we were sheltered from sight (где мы были скрыты из виду).

The captain promised me that if we should succeed in getting control of the ship, he would do anything that I wished (капитан пообещал мне, что если нам удастся захватить контроль над кораблем, он сделает все, что я пожелаю). He would carry me to England or to any other part of the world (он отвезет меня в Англию или в любую другую часть света). He would live and die with me.

"Well, then," said I, "if you will all obey my commands (если вы будете повиноваться моим указам), we will see what can be done (мы посмотрим, что может быть сделано)."

I gave each one of them a musket (мушкет), with powder and shot (с порохом и дробью). I told them to kill as few of the ruffians as they could (сказал им убить так мало бандитов, как они смогут = как можно меньше), and to make prisoners of them all if possible (и сделать пленников из них всех, если можно = сделать всех их пленниками).

Just then we heard some of them awake (мы услышали, что некоторые из них проснулись). In a moment thee men came out of the grove and started down to the shore.

"Are these the ringleaders (зачинщики)?" I asked.

"No," answered the captain.

"Well, then, let them go (пусть они идут)," I said; "but if the rest escape, it will be your fault (но если остальные сбегут, это будет ваша вина)."

With a musket in his hand and a pistol in his belt, the captain started forward (двинулся вперед). I was close at his side, while Friday and the other two men went a little ahead of us (немного впереди нас).

The mate (помощник, подручный) in his eagerness (в своем рвении) chanced to step on some dry sticks (случайно наступил на сухие ветки) which broke with a sharp noise beneath his feet (которые сломались с резким звуком под ногами). One of the seamen, hearing this (один из моряков, услышав это), looked out and saw us (увидел нас).

He gave the alarm (дал тревогу). The sleeping wretches awoke (негодяи проснулись) and sprang to their feet (вскочили на ноги). But it was too late. Our guns were already upon them (нацелены на них).

I need not tell you of the fight (борьбе). It was sharp and short (она была острой и короткой).

At its close (в конце ее) the two ruffians who had caused all this trouble (которые вызвали весь этот беспорядок = мятеж) were lying dead upon the ground (лежали мертвыми на земле). The three other men, who were but slightly hurt (слегка ранены), were our prisoners. As for my little army of five, not one was so much as scratched (что касается моей армии из пяти /человек/, никто не был даже оцарапан).

While the captain and I were binding the prisoners (связывали пленников), Friday and the mate ran to the boat and brought away the oars and the sails (весла и паруса).

Soon the three men who had gone down the shore came hurrying back to see what was the matter (в чем дело, что случилось).

When they saw how matters stood (как обстоят дела), they at once gave themselves up (сразу же сдались) and were bound with the rest (и были связаны с остальными). So our victory was complete (победа была полной).

We now retired to the castle (возвратились к замку; to retire — уходить; возвращаться на обычное место).

The prisoners were led into the back part of the cave (в заднюю часть пещеры) that I had first dug (которую я сначала выкопал), and were left there with Friday as their guard (как стражник).

With the captain, the mate, and the passenger, I went into my best room, where we all refreshed ourselves with such food as I had at hand («освежились» = закусили такой едой, которая у меня была под рукой).

We had now time to talk over the past (обсуждать прошлое) and make plans for the future (строить планы на будущее).

I told the captain my whole history just as I have told it to you. He, in his turn (в свою очередь), related to me (рассказал мне) the story of his voyage from England to the West Indies (о-ва Вест-Индии), and how his crew (команда), wishing to become pirates, had seized upon the ship (захватила корабль) and made him their prisoner.

"There are still twenty-six men on board (на борту)," he said. "They are no doubt wondering what has become of their fellows (без сомнения задаются вопросом, что произошло с их друзьями). After a while some of them will be likely to come on shore to find out what is the matter (через некоторое время некоторые из них, видимо, придут на берег выяснить, в чем дело)."

"Let them come (пусть приходят)," I said. "We will be ready for them."

We therefore went down to the shore where the boat was still lying.

We found in it some rum (рома), a few biscuits (несколько печений), a horn of powder (рог пороха), and five or six pounds of sugar (фунтов сахара). This last was very welcome to me, for I had not tasted sugar for several years (не ощущал вкуса несколько лет).

All these things we carried on shore. Then we knocked a big hole in the bottom of the boat (пробили большую дырку в днище лодки).

To tell the truth (сказать правду), I had but little hope that we would ever recover the ship (вернем). But I thought that after she had sailed away we might repair the boat (думал, что, когда корабль уйдет, мы починим лодку). Then we could no doubt make our way to the Spanish settlements on the mainland (смогли бы проделать путь к испанским поселениям на континенте).

About an hour before sunset (до заката), we heard a gun fired from the ship.

"It is as I told you," said the captain.

We saw a signal waving from the mast (сигнал с мачты; to wave — подавать сигнал, махать). Then several other shots were fired (было сделано еще несколько залпов).

At last, when there was no answer either to the signals or to the guns there was a great stir on board (большое шевеление на борту), and the other boat was launched (спущена).

I watched them with my spyglass (наблюдал через подзорную трубу).

As the boat neared the shore (приблизилась к берегу), we saw that there were ten men in her and that they were all armed with muskets (вооружены мушкетами).

The sun shone in their faces (светило в лица) and we had a good sight of them as they came (и мы могли хорошо их рассмотреть, когда они подплывали).

The captain knew them all. He said that there were three very honest fellows among them who had gone into this business against their will (было трое очень честных людей среди них, которые ввязались в дело против своей воли). All the rest, however (все остальные, однако), were bad men who were ready to do any wicked deed (готовы сделать любой нехороший поступок).

We now set free two of our prisoners (освободили двоих их пленников), for they seemed to be trustworthy men (которые казались надежными: «доверия достойными» людьми) and glad that matters had turned in the captain's favor (в пользу капитана).

"Can we trust them (доверять им), Captain?" I asked.

"I will stand good for them (ручаюсь за них)," said the captain.

I gave them each a gun. We had now seven armed men to meet the ten who were coming to the shore.

But we kept ourselves hidden (скрывались) and waited to see what they would do.

As soon as they reached the shore they ran to see the other boat. What was their surprise to find her stripped of everything and a hole in her bottom (каково было их удивление обнаружить ее лишенной всего и с дыркой в днище).

They shouted (кричали), but no one answered.

They fired off their muskets, making the woods ring with their echoes (заставив лес звучать от эхо). But still there was no answer.

Then they launched their boat again, and all started to the ship (двинулись к кораблю).

But on the way they changed their minds (изменили решение). It would never do (не пойдет), they thought, to leave their friends on the island without so much as hunting for them (не поискав их должным образом).

They therefore rowed back to the shore (погребли обратно к берегу). Three men were left with the boat as guards (как стражники), and the rest started out into the country to seek their lost companions (остальные отправились на берег искать потерявшихся товарищей).

We should have been glad if they had come our way, so that we might have fired on them; but this they failed to do (этого они этого не сделали; to fail — не исполнить, не сделать).

Night was fast coming on (ночь быстро опускалась), and they did not dare to go far from the shore (не осмелились идти далеко от берега).

By and by (постепенно) they came back to the boat again.

We feared that they had given up the search (боялись, что они бросили поиски) and would now return to the ship.

The sun was setting (заходило), and darkness would soon cover both land and sea (темнота скоро накроет и землю, и море; both — оба, и то и другое).

 

anxious [‘ænkʃes]

 

 

I HAVE AN ANXIOUS DAY

 

WHILE we were talking we had slowly withdrawn among the trees where we were sheltered from sight. The captain promised me that if we should succeed in getting control of the ship, he would do anything that I wished. He would carry me to England or to any other part of the world. He would live and die with me.

"Well, then," said I, "if you will all obey my commands, we will see what can be done."

I gave each one of them a musket, with powder and shot. I told them to kill as few of the ruffians as they could, and to make prisoners of them all if possible.

Just then we heard some of them awake. In a moment thee men came out of the grove and started down to the shore.

"Are these the ringleaders?" I asked.

"No," answered the captain.

"Well, then, let them go," I said; "but if the rest escape, it will be your fault."

With a musket in his hand and a pistol in his belt, the captain started forward. I was close at his side, while Friday and the other two men went a little ahead of us.

The mate in his eagerness chanced to step on some dry sticks which broke with a sharp noise beneath his feet. One of the seamen, hearing this, looked out and saw us.

He gave the alarm. The sleeping wretches awoke and sprang to their feet. But it was too late. Our guns were already upon them.

I need not tell you of the fight. It was sharp and short.

At its close the two ruffians who had caused all this trouble were lying dead upon the ground. The three other men, who were but slightly hurt, were our prisoners. As for my little army of five, not one was so much as scratched.

While the captain and I were binding the prisoners, Friday and the mate ran to the boat and brought away the oars and the sails.

Soon the three men who had gone down the shore came hurrying back to see what was the matter.

When they saw how matters stood, they at once gave themselves up and were bound with the rest. So our victory was complete.

We now retired to the castle.

The prisoners were led into the back part of the cave that I had first dug, and were left there with Friday as their guard.

With the captain, the mate, and the passenger, I went into my best room, where we all refreshed ourselves with such food as I had at hand.

We had now time to talk over the past and make plans for the future.

I told the captain my whole history just as I have told it to you. He, in his turn, related to me the story of his voyage from England to the West Indies, and how his crew, wishing to become pirates, had seized upon the ship and made him their prisoner.

"There are still twenty-six men on board," he said. "They are no doubt wondering what has become of their fellows. After a while some of them will be likely to come on shore to find out what is the matter."

"Let them come," I said. "We will be ready for them."

We therefore went down to the shore where the boat was still lying.

We found in it some rum, a few biscuits, a horn of powder, and five or six pounds of sugar. This last was very welcome to me, for I had not tasted sugar for several years.

All these things we carried on shore. Then we knocked a big hole in the bottom of the boat.

To tell the truth, I had but little hope that we would ever recover the ship. But I thought that after she had sailed away we might repair the boat. Then we could no doubt make our way to the Spanish settlements on the mainland.

About an hour before sunset, we heard a gun fired from the ship.

"It is as I told you," said the captain.

We saw a signal waving from the mast. Then several other shots were fired.

At last, when there was no answer either to the signals or to the guns there was a great stir on board, and the other boat was launched.

I watched them with my spyglass.

As the boat neared the shore, we saw that there were ten men in her and that they were all armed with muskets.

The sun shone in their faces and we had a good sight of them as they came.

The captain knew them all. He said that there were three very honest fellows among them who had gone into this business against their will. All the rest, however, were bad men who were ready to do any wicked deed.

We now set free two of our prisoners, for they seemed to be trustworthy men and glad that matters had turned in the captain's favor.

"Can we trust them, Captain?" I asked.

"I will stand good for them," said the captain.

I gave them each a gun. We had now seven armed men to meet the ten who were coming to the shore.

But we kept ourselves hidden and waited to see what they would do.

As soon as they reached the shore they ran to see the other boat. What was their surprise to find her stripped of everything and a hole in her bottom.

They shouted, but no one answered.

They fired off their muskets, making the woods ring with their echoes. But still there was no answer.

Then they launched their boat again, and all started to the ship.

But on the way they changed their minds. It would never do, they thought, to leave their friends on the island without so much as hunting for them.

They therefore rowed back to the shore. Three men were left with the boat as guards, and the rest started out into the country to seek their lost companions.

We should have been glad if they had come our way, so that we might have fired on them; but this they failed to do.

Night was fast coming on, and they did not dare to go far from the shore.

By and by they came back to the boat again.

We feared that they had given up the search and would now return to the ship.

The sun was setting, and darkness would soon cover both land and sea.

 

I AM CALLED GOVERNOR (назначен губернатором)

 

BY my orders (по моим приказам), Friday and the captain's mate hurried through the woods to the little river where I had landed so long ago with my rafts (Пятница и друг капитана поспешили через лес к маленькой реке, где я причалил так давно = когда-то с моими плотами).

When they had reached the place, they shouted as loudly as they could (они закричали так громко, как /только/ могли).

 

The men who were just getting into the boat heard them (услышали их). They answered (ответили), and ran along the shore toward the little river (побежали вдоль берега к маленькой реке).

The three who had been left in the boat also rowed around toward the same place (погребли к тому же месту). Near the mouth of the river (около устья реки), however, they came to land again (вновь высадились на землю), and one of them ran along the bank of the stream to meet his fellows (вдоль берега потока, чтобы встретить своих товарищей).

At this moment I rushed forward with the captain (поспешил вперед с капитаном; to rush — броситься, устремиться), and seized the boat (захватил лодку) before the two fellows who were in it could save themselves (прежде чем два приятеля, которые были в ней, смогли спастись /бегством/).

It was now almost dark (почти темно), and we had nothing to do but wait till the seamen came back to the shore to look for their boat (искать свою лодку).

Soon Friday and the captain's mate rejoined us (вновь присоединились к нам), and I stood at the head of my little army (во главе своей малой армии), listening to the seamen as they made their way through the bushes (прислушиваясь, как моряки прокладывали путь через кусты).

We could hear them calling to one another (могли слышать, как они звали друг друга). We could hear them telling how lame (усталыми: «хромыми, плохо владеющими ногами») and tired they were. We could hear them saying that they were in an enchanted island (на заколдованном острове) where there were witches (где были ведьмы) and other kinds of uncanny things (зловещие, сверхъестественные вещи). All this pleased us very much.

By and by they came to the shore, quite close to where we were standing.

One of the men whom they had left in the boat was standing with us. He was one of the honest men whom the captain had pointed out (он был одним из тех честных людей, на которого капитан указал), and he had joined us very gladly (он присоединился к нам очень радостно).

By my orders he now cried out (по моему приказу он выкрикнул сейчас), "Tom Smith! Tom Smith!" For that was the name of the leader of the company (вожака компании).

Tom Smith answered at once, "Is that you, Robinson?" for he knew the voice (голос).

"Yes," the other answered, "and for God's sake (ради Бога), Tom Smith, throw down your arms and yield (брось оружие и сдавайся), or you will all be dead men the next minute (будете мертвецами)."

"To whom must we yield (кому должны мы сдаваться)?" cried Tom Smith. "Where are they?"

"Here they are," was the answer. "Here's our captain at the head of a whole army of fighting men (во главе целой армии «воюющих людей» = воинов). The boatswain is dead (боцман мертв), and Bill Fry is dead, and all the rest of us are prisoners (все остальные из нас пленники). If you don't yield, you are lost (ты пропал)."

"If they'll give us quarters (если они дадут пощаду), we'll yield (мы согласимся)," said Smith.

Then the captain himself spoke up. "You, Smith," he said, "you know my voice. If you lay down your arms at once, you shall have your lives — all but Will Atkins (кроме Уилла Эткинса)."

Upon this, Will Atkins cried out: "For God's sake, Captain, give me quarter (дай мне пощаду)! What have I done? I have been no worse than the rest (не хуже, чем другие)."

Now this was not true (неправда). For it was Will Atkins who had first laid hold of the captain (завладел капитаном; to lay hold of smth — завладеть чем-то), and it was he who had tied the captain's hands (связал).

"Nay (нет), Will Atkins," said the captain. "You know what you have done, and I can promise you nothing (не могу обещать тебе ничего). You must lay down your arms and trust to the governor's mercy (довериться власти губернатора)."

By "the governor" he meant me (он имел в виду меня), Robinson Crusoe — for they called me governor (так как они называли меня губернатором).

The upshot of the whole matter (развязка всего дела) was that they all laid down their arms and begged for their lives (молили о жизни).

Then I sent three of my men to bind them with strong cords (связать их крепкими веревками), which they did, much to my joy (к моей вящей радости).

After that I sent my great army of fifty men (после этого я отослал мою огромную армию из пятидесяти человек) — which, after all, were only five besides the three who already had them in charge (которая, после всего = в конце концов, состояла только из пяти, не считая тех трех, которые уже имели их в плену) — to lead them to prison (чтобы отвести их в тюрьму).

I told the captain that it would be better to put some of our prisoners in one place and some in another, as then they would be less likely to try to escape (ибо тогда менее вероятно, что попытаются убежать).

He and Friday therefore took Atkins with two others who were the worst to my cave in the woods (в мою пещеру в лесу). It was a dismal place, but very safe (мрачное место, но очень безопасное). There the rough fellows (грубые парни = бандиты, негодяи) were left with their hands and feet tied fast (с руками и ногами туго связанными), and the door blocked up with a huge stone (и дверью, заваленной большим камнем).

Late as it was, I sent the rest of them to my bower (в мою беседку). As they also were bound (связаны), and as the place was fenced in (окружено забором) and was very strong (хорошо укреплено), they were quite safe there.

They were all much frightened (очень напуганы). For they believed that the island was inhabited (обитаем) by Englishmen, and that the governor had really a large army (большую армию). They felt that the better they behaved the safer they would be (думали, что чем лучше будут себя вести, тем в большей безопасности будут).

The captain went out to talk with them.

"My men," he said, "you all know what a great crime you have committed (какое большое преступление вы совершили). You are now in the power of the governor of this island (во власти губернатора этого острова). He will send you to England. There you will be tried (вас будут судить), and you will be hanged in chains (будете повешены, закованные в цепи)."

At these words they turned pale and groaned (побледнели и застонали). For they were but young men and had been led into this by the four or five ruffians who were the ringleaders (были вовлечены в это четырьмя-пятью негодяями, которые были зачинщиками).

"Now, my men," the captain went on (продолжал), "you know that I have always been kind to you (добр к вам)."

"Certainly you have (конечно: «определенно» вы были /таковым/)," said Tom Smith.

"Aye (да), aye!" cried all the rest.

"Well, then," said the captain, "it grieves my heart to see you in this hard case (мне печалит сердце видеть вас в этих тяжелых обстоятельствах). The ship, as you know, still lies at anchor off the shore (на якоре у берега). It is still held by some of the ruffians who brought this trouble upon us (удерживается негодяями, которые навели на нас эту беду). If I should persuade the governor to set you free (если я уговорю губернатора освободить вас), what say you? Would you help me retake the ship (поможете ли вы мне вновь взять = захватить корабль)?"

"Aye, aye!" they all cried. "We would stand by you to the end (мы будем помогать тебе до конца), for we should then owe our lives (будем тогда обязаны жизнью), to you (вам)."

"Well, then," said the captain, "I will see what I can do. I will go and talk with the governor."

The matter was soon arranged (вопрос был скоро улажен).

The captain was to choose (должен был выбрать) five of those he thought would be most faithful (которым можно было больше всех доверять). These were to help him retake the ship. But the rest were to stay in prison as hostages (как заложники).

If the five behaved themselves well, then all were to be set free (должны быть отпущены на волю). If they did not behave, then all were to be put to death (обречены на смерть, казнены).

These were the governor's orders (приказы губернатора).

It was then agreed (было соглашено = договорились) that the captain, with all the men he could trust (со всеми людьми, которым он мог доверять), should go out to the ship. I and my man Friday were to stay on shore to watch the prisoners (следить за пленниками).

The hole in the bottom of the long boat was soon mended (дырка в днище длинной лодки была скоро заделана). Four men, with the passenger as their leader, went out in this (вышли в ней). The captain, with five men, went out in the other boat.

It was after midnight when they reached the ship (после полуночи достигли корабля).

The men on board were taken by surprise (были застигнуты врасплох), for they thought that these were their friends who were but just then returning to the ship (так как думали, что это были друзья, которые как раз только возвращались на корабль).

They even threw a rope (кинули веревку) to them and helped them on board, never suspecting that anything was wrong (вовсе не подозревая, что что-то было не так; wrong — неправильный).

The whole business was managed well (все это было проделано отлично). The second mate and the carpenter (плотник), who were among the leaders in the plot (в заговоре), were soon overpowered (пересилены = их одолели).

The rebel captain (мятежный капитан), the worst of the crew (самый худший из команды), was asleep in his berth (спал на койке). He sprang up and showed fight («показал бой» = оказал сопротивление). He shot three times at the captain's party, wounding the mate but touching no one else (ранив помощника, но не коснувшись никого больше).

The mate, wounded as he was, raised his musket and fired (поднял мушкет и выстрелил). The rebel captain fell to the deck with a bullet through his head (упал на палубу с пулей /прошедшей/ через голову).

The rest, seeing that they were without leaders, fell upon their knees and begged for their lives (упали на колени и просили сохранить им жизнь).

Thus the captain became again the master of his own ship (хозяином корабля).

 

boatswain [bausn] yield [ji:ld]

 

 

I AM CALLED GOVERNOR

BY my orders, Friday and the captain's mate hurried through the woods to the little river where I had landed so long ago with my rafts.

When they had reached the place, they shouted as loudly as they could. The men who were just getting into the boat heard them. They answered, and ran along the shore toward the little river.

The three who had been left in the boat also rowed around toward the same place. Near the mouth of the river, however, they came to land again, and one of them ran along the bank of the stream to meet his fellows.

At this moment I rushed forward with the captain, and seized the boat before the two fellows who were in it could save themselves.

It was now almost dark, and we had nothing to do but wait till the seamen came back to the shore to look for their boat.

Soon Friday and the captain's mate rejoined us, and I stood at the head of my little army, listening to the seamen as they made their way through the bushes.

We could hear them calling to one another. We could hear them telling how lame and tired they were. We could hear them saying that they were in an enchanted island where there were witches and other kinds of uncanny things. All this pleased us very much.

By and by they came to the shore, quite close to where we were standing.

One of the men whom they had left in the boat was standing with us. He was one of the honest men whom the captain had pointed out, and he had joined us very gladly.

By my orders he now cried out, "Tom Smith! Tom Smith!" For that was the name of the leader of the company.

Tom Smith answered at once, "Is that you, Robinson?" for he knew the voice.

"Yes," the other answered, "and for God's sake, Tom Smith, throw down your arms and yield, or you will all be dead men the next minute."

"To whom must we yield?" cried Tom Smith. "Where are they?"

"Here they are," was the answer. "Here's our captain at the head of a whole army of fighting men. The boatswain is dead, and Bill Fry is dead, and all the rest of us are prisoners. If you don't yield, you are lost."

"If they'll give us quarters, we'll yield," said Smith.

Then the captain himself spoke up. "You, Smith," he said, "you know my voice. If you lay down your arms at once, you shall have your lives — all but Will Atkins."

Upon this, Will Atkins cried out: "For God's sake, Captain, give me quarter! What have I done? I have been no worse than the rest."

Now this was not true. For it was Will Atkins who had first laid hold of the captain, and it was he who had tied the captain's hands.

"Nay, Will Atkins," said the captain. "You know what you have done, and I can promise you nothing. You must lay down your arms and trust to the governor's mercy."

By "the governor" he meant me, Robinson Crusoe — for they called me governor.

The upshot of the whole matter was that they all laid down their arms and begged for their lives.

Then I sent three of my men to bind them with strong cords, which they did, much to my joy.

After that I sent my great army of fifty men — which, after all, were only five besides the three who already had them in charge — to lead them to prison.

I told the captain that it would be better to put some of our prisoners in one place and some in another, as then they would be less likely to try to escape.

He and Friday therefore took Atkins with two others who were the worst to my cave in the woods. It was a dismal place, but very safe. There the rough fellows were left with their hands and feet tied fast, and the door blocked up with a huge stone.

Late as it was, I sent the rest of them to my bower. As they also were bound, and as the place was fenced in and was very strong, they were quite safe there.

They were all much frightened. For they believed that the island was inhabited by Englishmen, and that the governor had really a large army. They felt that the better they behaved the safer they would be.

The captain went out to talk with them.

"My men," he said, "you all know what a great crime you have committed. You are now in the power of the governor of this island. He will send you to England. There you will be tried, and you will be hanged in chains."

At these words they turned pale and groaned. For they were but young men and had been led into this by the four or five ruffians who were the ringleaders.

"Now, my men," the captain went on, "you know that I have always been kind to you."

"Certainly you have," said Tom Smith.

"Aye, aye!" cried all the rest.

"Well, then," said the captain, "it grieves my heart to see you in this hard case. The ship, as you know, still lies at anchor off the shore. It is still held by some of the ruffians who brought this trouble upon us. If I should persuade the governor to set you free, what say you? Would you help me retake the ship?"

"Aye, aye!" they all cried. "We would stand by you to the end, for we should then owe our lives, to you."

"Well, then," said the captain, "I will see what I can do. I will go and talk with the governor."

The matter was soon arranged.

The captain was to choose five of those he thought would be most faithful. These were to help him retake the ship. But the rest were to stay in prison as hostages.

If the five behaved themselves well, then all were to be set free. If they did not behave, then all were to be put to death.

These were the governor's orders.

It was then agreed that the captain, with all the men he could trust, should go out to the ship. I and my man Friday were to stay on shore to watch the prisoners.

The hole in the bottom of the long boat was soon mended. Four men, with the passenger as their leader, went out in this. The captain, with five men, went out in the other boat.

It was after midnight when they reached the ship.

The men on board were taken by surprise, for they thought that these were their friends who were but just then returning to the ship.

They even threw a rope to them and helped them on board, never suspecting that anything was wrong.

The whole business was managed well. The second mate and the carpenter, who were among the leaders in the plot, were soon overpowered.

The rebel captain, the worst of the crew, was asleep in his berth. He sprang up and showed fight. He shot three times at the captain's party, wounding the mate but touching no one else.

The mate, wounded as he was, raised his musket and fired. The rebel captain fell to the deck with a bullet through his head.

The rest, seeing that they were without leaders, fell upon their knees and begged for their lives.

Thus the captain became again the master of his own ship.