CHAPTER XXVII.
SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK'S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR'S ORDER.
In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.

The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain's order at the helm.

But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain's order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.

By putting the helm _hard up_, the Captain was for _scudding_; that is, for flying away from the gale.

Whereas, Mad Jack was for running the ship into its teeth.