He was unable to catch on to the bank with his hands, and slipping on the frozen slope, he disappeared in the abyss.
Was this the beginning of a massacre?
Would others let themselves be killed at this place?
Would the old hands side with the new-comers?
At that moment I remarked that Hardy, Martin Holt, Francis Bury, and Stern hesitated about coming over to our side, while Hearne, still standing motionless at some distance, gave no encouragement to the rebels.
However, we could not allow them to become masters of the boat, to bring it down, to embark ten or twelve men, and to abandon us to our certain fate on this iceberg.

They had almost reached the boat, heedless of danger and deaf to threats, when a second report was heard, and one of the sailors fell, by a bullet from the boatswain's gun.
One American and one Fuegian less to be numbered amongst the sealing-master's partisans! Then, in front of the boat, a man appeared.

It was Dirk Peters, who had climbed the opposite slope.
The half-breed put one of his enormous hands on the stern and with the other made a sign to the furious men to clear off.

Dirk Peters being there, we no longer needed our arms, as he alone would suffice to protect the boat.
And indeed, as five or six of the sailors were advancing, he went up to them, caught hold of the nearest by the belt, lifted him up, and sent him flying ten paces off.

The wretched man not being able to catch hold of anything, would have rebounded into the sea had not Hearne seized him.
Owing to the half-breed's intervention the revolt was instantly queued.