Peters had a long conversation this day with Augustus, and told
      him that two of his gang, Greely and Allen, had gone over to the
      mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He put several questions
      to Augustus which he did not then exactly understand. During a
      part of this evening the leak gained upon the vessel; and little
      could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by the brig's
      straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail was
      thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure,
      so that we began to gain upon the leak. July 8th. A light breeze sprang up at sunrise from the eastward,
      when the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the
      intention of making some of the West India islands in pursuance
      of his piratical designs. No opposition was made by Peters or the
      cook—at least none in the hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking
      the vessel from the Cape Verds was abandoned. The leak was now
      easily kept under by one pump going every three quarters of an
      hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the bows. Spoke two small
      schooners during the day. July 9th. Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks. Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke
      more plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should
      induce him to come into the mate’s views, and even hinted his
      intention of taking the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend
      if he could depend upon his aid in such case, to which Augustus
      said, “Yes,” without hesitation. Peters then said he would sound
      the others of his party upon the subject, and went away. During
      the remainder of the day Augustus had no opportunity of speaking
      with him privately. CHAPTER 7


      July 10. Spoke a brig from Rio, bound to Norfolk. Weather hazy,
      with a light baffling wind from the eastward. To-day Hartman
      Rogers died, having been attacked on the eighth with spasms after
      drinking a glass of grog. This man was of the cook’s party, and
      one upon whom Peters placed his main reliance. He told Augustus
      that he believed the mate had poisoned him, and that he expected,
      if he did not be on the look-out, his own turn would come
      shortly. There were now only himself, Jones, and the cook
      belonging to his own gang—on the other side there were five. He
      had spoken to Jones about taking the command from the mate; but
      the project having been coolly received, he had been deterred
      from pressing the matter any further, or from saying any thing to
      the cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent,
      for in the afternoon the cook expressed his determination of
      siding with the mate, and went over formally to that party; while
      Jones took an opportunity of quarrelling with Peters, and hinted
      that he would let the mate know of the plan in agitation. There
      was now, evidently, no time to be lost, and Peters expressed his
      determination of attempting to take the vessel at all hazards,
      provided Augustus would lend him his aid. My friend at once
      assured him of his willingness to enter into any plan for that
      purpose, and, thinking the opportunity a favourable one, made
      known the fact of my being on board. At this the hybrid was not
      more astonished than delighted, as he had no reliance whatever
      upon Jones, whom he already considered as belonging to the party
      of the mate. They went below immediately, when Augustus called to
      me by name, and Peters and myself were soon made acquainted. It
      was agreed that we should attempt to retake the vessel upon the
      first good opportunity, leaving Jones altogether out of our
      councils. In the event of success, we were to run the brig into
      the first port that offered, and deliver her up. The desertion of
      his party had frustrated Peters’ design of going into the
      Pacific—an adventure which could not be accomplished without a
      crew, and he depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial,
      on the score of insanity (which he solemnly avowed had actuated
      him in lending his aid to the mutiny), or upon obtaining a
      pardon, if found guilty, through the representations of Augustus
      and myself. Our deliberations were interrupted for the present by
      the cry of, “All hands take in sail,” and Peters and Augustus ran
      up on deck. As usual, the crew were nearly all drunk; and, before sail could
      be properly taken in, a violent squall laid the brig on her
      beam-ends. By keeping her away, however, she righted, having
      shipped a good deal of water. Scarcely was everything secure,
      when another squall took the vessel, and immediately afterward
      another—no damage being done. There was every appearance of a
      gale of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, with great fury,
      from the northward and westward. All was made as snug as
      possible, and we laid-to, as usual, under a close-reefed
      foresail. As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with
      a remarkably heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with
      Augustus, and we resumed our deliberations. We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the
      present for carrying our designs into effect, as an attempt at
      such a moment would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly
      laid-to, there would be no necessity of manoeuvring her until
      good weather, when, if we succeeded in our attempt, we might
      liberate one, or perhaps two of the men, to aid us in taking her
      into port. The main difficulty was the great disproportion in our
      forces. There were only three of us, and in the cabin there were
      nine. All the arms on board, too, were in their possession, with
      the exception of a pair of small pistols which Peters had
      concealed about his person, and the large seaman’s knife which he
      always wore in the waistband of his pantaloons. From certain
      indications, too—such, for example, as there being no such thing
      as an axe or a handspike lying in their customary places—we began
      to fear that the mate had his suspicions, at least in regard to
      Peters, and that he would let slip no opportunity of getting rid
      of him. It was clear, indeed, that what we should determine to do
      could not be done too soon. Still the odds were too much against
      us to allow of our proceeding without the greatest caution.