But none saw that; Hazel's eye never left the raving wretches in the forepart of the boat; Cooper and Welch sat in gloomy despair amidships; and the others were huddled together forward, encouraging each other to a desperate act.
It was about eight o'clock in the morning.

Helen Rolleston awoke from a brief doze and said, "Mr.Hazel, I have had a strange dream.

I dreamed there was food, and plenty of it, on the outside of this boat." While these strange words were yet in her mouth, three of the sailors suddenly rose up with their knives drawn, and eyes full of murder, and staggered aft as fast as their enfeebled bodies could.
Hazel uttered a loud cry, "Welch! Cooper! will you see us butchered ?" and, unshipping the helm, rose to his feet.
Cooper put out his arm to stop Mackintosh, but was too late.

He did stop Morgan, however, and said, "Come, none of that; no foul play!" Irritated by this unexpected resistance, and maddened by drink, Morgan turned on Cooper and stabbed him; he sank down with a groan; on this Welch gave Morgan a fearful gash, dividing his jugular, and was stabbed, in return, by Prince, but not severely; these two grappled and rolled over one another, stabbing and cursing at the bottom of the boat; meantime, Mackintosh was received by Hazel with a point blank thrust in the face from the helm that staggered him, though a very powerful man, and drove him backward against the mast; but, in delivering this thrust, Hazel's foot slipped, and he fell with great violence on his head and arm; Mackintosh recovered himself, and sprang upon the stern thwart with his knife up and gleaming over Helen Rolleston.

Hazel writhed round where he lay, and struck him desperately on the knee with the helm.