Syd Belton Part 54

"Ay, ay, sir," cried the others, who had closed in, following their messmate.

"Quite right?"

"Yes; Mr Dallas put you under arrest."

"Mr Dallas is ill--dying, and unable to give orders, sir. I am your senior."

"Oh, you're welcome to take command for me," cried Roylance. "I don't want the responsibility."

"Once more, my lads, I warn you of the consequences. Will you go to your work?"

There was no reply, and the men drew back, while Terry stood looking along their faces with his pistol raised.

"Mind that there don't go off, please, sir," said Rogers, dryly. "You might hit me."

There was a roar of laughter at this, and Terry stamped with rage.

"Shall I go and try and bring 'em to their senses, sir?" said the boatswain.

"No--yes," cried Terry.

"Which on 'em, sir?" said the boatswain, dryly.

"Yes. Go and see, and tell them I'll shoot down the first man who disobeys."

"Oh, Lor'!" groaned Rogers, with mock horror, and there was another laugh, while Syd turned away unable to keep his countenance, and went to where the lieutenant lay asleep.

"Look here, my lads," growled the boatswain; "it's no use kicking agen it. Come on; lay to at the ropes, and let's get the work done."

"We arn't going to be bully-ragged by a thing like that," said the oldest man present. "If he was a chap with anything in him, we would.

But he's a bully, that's what he is. Let Mr Roylance take command."

"Says as Mr Roylance is to take command, sir," shouted Strake.

"No," said Roylance, "I will not undertake the responsibility."

"Look ye here, messmates," cried Rogers, as Syd hung back from the little tent, "Capen Belton's our skipper."

"Ay, ay," shouted the men.

"And he arn't here, and the luff's in orspittle."

"Well, we know that, Iky," said one of the men.

"Ay, lad; but here comes the son. I says let young Captain Belton take command."

"Ay, ay!" thundered the men, and they gave three cheers.

"There you are, sir," said the boatswain. "Men says you're to take command."

"I?" cried Syd; "nonsense. There's Mr Roylance."

"No, no," cried the men; and Terry stood grinding his teeth, and looking threateningly at Syd.

"Look here, my lads," cried Syd; "the captain wants those guns mounted, and this place held."

"Ay, ay, sir; we'll do it and hold it again anybody," cried Rogers.

"Very well put, Belton; very well," cried Terry.

"Your officer is helpless. Will you obey Mr Terry, and do your duty like men?"

"No!" came with a roar.

"Then let Mr Roy lance take command. Come, be men."

"We arn't got nothing agen Mr Roylance," shouted a voice; "but we want you."

"Go on, Belton; take command. The s.h.i.+p will be back perhaps to-night, and we must have those guns up," said Roylance.

"Will you back me up?"

"Of course," cried Roylance, heartily.

"All right, then, my lads," cried Syd. "Now then, with a will."

"Ay, ay. Hooray!" shouted the men.

"Man signalling from the tent, sir," said Roylance.

"Oh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Syd, as a cold chill ran through him, and he shrank from learning what it meant. "Go and see, Roy."

Roylance was already half-way there, and he came back directly.

"Mr Dallas says you are to take command, Mr Belton," he cried, loud enough for the men to hear; "and he begs that at any cost you will get the guns in position before dark."

"Ay, ay," yelled the men, and then there was dead silence.

"I am only one against you all, Mr Belton," said Terry, in a low, snarling tone, "and the moment the _Sirius_ comes back, I go to the captain and tell him the whole truth."

"Do," said Syd, quietly; "only tell him all."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

"Barney, keep near me, and tell me what to do," whispered Syd; "I feel such a fool."