Like Harrigan earlier in the day, he had no purpose to reveal the planned mutiny at once.

The Irishman waited because he did not know to whom he could confide the dangerous information; McTee delayed in the hope of nipping insurrection in the bud at the very instant when it was about to flower.

It would be far more spectacular.

Moreover, he saw in this a manner of enlisting Kate on his side.
Shortly before four bells in the afternoon he went to her cabin and knocked at the door.

When she opened it to him, she stood with one hand upon the knob, blocking the way and waiting silently for an explanation of his coming.