"Then you will agree with Captain Berriman and me that some very stern
measures must be taken?"
"Yes," said Mr Preddle.
"I do, certainly," replied Mr Denning.
Mr Frewen and I were both silent; but at last the doctor spoke.
"What do you propose doing?" he said, rather huskily.
"That is what we are here to decide, and that quickly, for one or two of
us must always be on deck. Can you suggest anything, either of you?"
No one spoke, and I felt that whoever did would feel like a judge
condemning a man to death.
"Time is flying, gentlemen," said the mate. "We must act, and the
captain and I ask for your help to share this terrible responsibility;
for whatever we do we shall have to answer for to the laws of our
country."
"Yes," said Mr Frewen, solemnly, "and to our God."
"Amen," said Mr Denning, softly; and he walked into the cabin, and laid
his hand upon that of Captain Berriman, both men gazing into each
other's eyes as if in their feeble state they might soon be called upon
to answer the question what they had done with the talents committed to
their charge.
Perhaps I was very weak then, and I ought to have been stronger and more
manly; but my eyes grew very dim, and for some minutes I could not see
what was going on.
Mr Frewen was the first to break the solemn silence.
"Gentlemen," he said; and then he stopped while every one turned to him,
and I thought how handsome, manly, and yet how stern he looked as he
stood gazing straight before him and through the cabin-window at the
glittering sea, while I could hardly hear a breath. Then he went
on--"Heaven knows," he said, "that I would not shrink from my duty; and
Mr Denning may rest assured, that if it comes to the worst, I will give
my life sooner than harm should come to the dear lady we all reverence--
and love. But I shrink, as a man who has had so much to do with life
and death, from taking the life of any one, however vile he may be."
Mr Brymer fidgeted a little, and Mr Frewen saw it.
"Bear with me a few moments," he said, "and I have done. I shrink, I
say, from shedding blood; but if the stern necessity comes, I will
strike home as a man should at such a time."
"You--" began Mr Brymer.
"Stop, sir, and hear me out," said Mr Frewen. "It seems to me that
there can be no doubt of one thing: if we can shoot down--wounded, I
hope--this man Jarette, we might easily master his followers."
"I have no doubt of that whatever," said Mr Brymer.
"Exactly, and that shall be done if all other methods fail."
"What other methods, sir?" said Mr Denning.
"You gentlemen may have some plans, for my part I have but one."
"We have no plans," they all said eagerly. "Then you have one?"
"Yes," said Mr Frewen. "I have one--a wild and desperate one, whose
aim is to separate Jarette from his followers, living, and to make him
prisoner. It may fail, for it is, as I say, a wild and desperate plan."
"In Heaven's name then, doctor, what is it?" said the captain, feebly.
"Speak out, sir; you know how bad I am, and that this business is
killing me."
"Then I will speak out, captain," said Mr Frewen, warmly. "I did mean
to ask you all to wait, and have confidence in me sufficient to let me
have forty-eight hours for my trial without divulging what I intended to
do."
"The times are too desperate, Mr Frewen," said the mate. "Don't ask
that of us."
"No; I say I will speak, but I ask you not to look upon the attempt as
childish or absurd until it has been tried."
He paused, and seeing how faint and hot the captain looked, bade me step
back, and push the saloon-light farther open.
I did so, and returned nervous and excited, in dread lest I should miss
a word.
But Mr Frewen had not spoken, but stood looking straight before him.
Then he said quickly--"I am going to do rather a risky thing, an act
which may imperil men's lives; but I shall be as guarded as possible."
"Yes," said Mr Denning, eagerly.
"Before long," continued Mr Frewen, in a low, firm voice, "a fresh
supply of food and water must be given to those men. They cannot be
starved to death."
"No, of course not," said Mr Brymer, excitedly.
"Then you grasp of course what I propose doing. I shall drug that food
with one of the powerful extracts which I have in my medicine-chest. It
will be passed down to the men, who will be almost voracious, and then
we shall have to wait until it has taken effect, open the hatch, secure
Jarette, and separate the others into, say, three parties--one in the
cable-tier, the other in the forecastle, the last in the hold or one of
the cabins. The rest, I think, will be easy."
There was a dead silence.
"Do you think my plan too wild?"
"No," said Mr Denning, quickly. "God bless you, doctor!" and he held
out both his hands.
"Yes, that plan will do," said Captain Berriman, "I feel assured."
"Yes, yes," was murmured in a tone full of emotion; and at that moment
there was a sharp crack which seemed to have come from somewhere in the
saloon.