This gave rise to much discontent, and eventually the blacks, in desperation, openly rose and mutinied.

Arming themselves with heavy pieces of firewood they proceeded to attack their masters, and some of them succeeded in getting at the water, in spite of the whites, by simply knocking the bungs out of the casks.

The captain thereupon went down to parley with them, but was met by a shower of blows from the heavy sticks I have just mentioned.

Half-stunned, he dashed out of the hold, got his musket, and fired down among the mutineers, hitting one black- fellow in the throat, and killing him instantly.

Far from infuriating the rest, as would most certainly have been the case with any other race, this course of action terrified the blacks, and they barricaded themselves down below.