“Prizes to the Rebiera, cut out of Malaga Bay,” replied Jack.

“Then you are a privateer,” observed the disappointed officer. “Where are your papers?”

“Mr. Oxbelly, oblige me by bringing them up,” said Jack.

“Fat Jack of the bone house,” observed the lieutenant, looking at Oxbelly.

“A lieutenant in his majesty’s service, of longer standing than yourself, young man,” replied Oxbelly firmly; “and who, if he ever meets you in any other situation, will make you answer for your insolent remark.”

“Indeed!” observed the lieutenant ironically; “now, if you had said you were once a boatswain or gunner.”

“Consider yourself kicked,” roared Oxbelly, losing his temper.

“Heyday! why, you old porpoise?”

“Sir,” observed Jack, who listened with indignation, “Mr. Oxbelly is a lieutenant in his majesty’s service, and you have no right to insult him, even if he were not.”

“I presume you are all officers,” replied the lieutenant.

“I am, sir,” retorted Gascoigne, “an officer in his majesty’s service, and on board of this vessel by permission of Captain Sawbridge of the Latona.”

“And I was, until a few months ago, sir,” continued Jack; “at present I am captain and owner of this vessel— but here are the papers. You will have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty— at the same time, I call upon the two young gentlemen by your side, and your own men, to bear witness to what takes place.”

“Oh very well, sir— just as you please. Your papers, I perceive, are all right. Now you will oblige me by mustering your men.”

“Certainly, sir,” replied Jack; “send all the men aft to muster, Mr. Oxbelly.”

The men came aft to the mainmast, with Mesty at their head, and answered to their names. As the men passed over, the lieutenant made a pencil-mark against ten of them, who appeared the finest seamen; and, when the roll had been called, he ordered those men to get their bags and go into the boat.

“Sir, as you must observe, I am short-handed, with my men away in prizes; and I, as commander of this vessel, protest against this proceeding: if you insist upon taking them, of course I can do nothing,” observed Jack.

“I do insist, sir; I’m not going on board empty-handed, at all events.”

“Well, sir, I can say no more,” said Jack, walking aft to the taffrail, to which Oxbelly and Gascoigne had retreated.

“Come, my lads, get those men in the boat,” said the lieutenant.

But the men had all retreated forward in a body, with Mesty at their head, and had armed themselves. Some of the seamen of the frigate had gone forward, in obedience to their officer, to lead the men selected into the boat; but they were immediately desired to keep back. The scuffle forward attracted the notice of the lieutenant, who immediately summoned all his men out of the boats.

“Mutiny, by heavens! Come up, all of you, my lads.”