Themutineers，however，succeededatlastinclosingtheforecastleeffectuallybeforemorethansixoftheiropponentscouldgetup。
Thesesix，findingthemselvessogreatlyoutnumberedandwithoutarms，submittedafterabriefstruggle。Themategavethemfairwords-nodoubtwithaviewofinducingthosebelowtoyield，fortheyhadnodifficultyinhearingallthatwassaidondeck。Theresultprovedhissagacity，nolessthanhisdiabolicalvillainy。Allintheforecastlepresentlysignifiedtheirintentionofsubmitting，and，ascendingonebyone，werepinionedandthenthrownontheirbacks，togetherwiththefirstsix-therebeinginall，ofthecrewwhowerenotconcernedinthemutiny，twenty-seven。
Asceneofthemosthorriblebutcheryensued。Theboundseamenweredraggedtothegangway。Herethecookstoodwithanaxe，strikingeachvictimontheheadashewasforcedoverthesideofthevesselbytheothermutineers。Inthismannertwenty-twoperished，andAugustushadgivenhimselfupforlost，expectingeverymomenthisownturntocomenext。Butitseemedthatthevillainswerenoweitherweary，orinsomemeasuredisgustedwiththeirbloodylabour；forthefourremainingprisoners，togetherwithmyfriend，whohadbeenthrownonthedeckwiththerest，wererespitedwhilethematesentbelowforrum，andthewholemurderouspartyheldadrunkencarouse，whichlasteduntilsunset。Theynowfelltodisputinginregardtothefateofthesurvivors，wholaynotmorethanfourpacesoff，andcoulddistinguisheverywordsaid。Uponsomeofthemutineerstheliquorappearedtohaveasofteningeffect，forseveralvoiceswereheardinfavorofreleasingthecaptivesaltogether，onconditionofjoiningthemutinyandsharingtheprofits。Theblackcook，howeverwhoinallrespectswasaperfectdemon，andwhoseemedtoexertasmuchinfluence，ifnotmore，thanthematehimself，wouldlistentonopropositionofthekind，androserepeatedlyforthepurposeofresuminghisworkatthegangway。
Fortunatelyhewassofarovercomebyintoxicationastobeeasilyrestrainedbythelessbloodthirstyoftheparty，amongwhomwasaline-manager，whowentbythenameofDirkPeters。ThismanwasthesonofanIndiansquawofthetribeofUpsarokas，wholiveamongthefastnessesoftheBlackHills，nearthesourceoftheMissouri。Hisfatherwasafur-trader，Ibelieve，oratleastconnectedinsomemannerwiththeIndiantrading-postsonLewisriver。Peterhimselfwasoneofthemostferocious-lookingmenIeverbeheld。Hewasshortinstature，notmorethanfourfeeteightincheshigh，buthislimbswereofHerculeanmould。Hishands，especially，weresoenormouslythickandbroadashardlytoretainahumanshape。Hisarms，aswellaslegs，werebowedinthemostsingularmanner，andappearedtopossessnoflexibilitywhatever。Hisheadwasequallydeformed，beingofimmensesize，withanindentationonthecrownlikethatontheheadofmostnegroes，andentirelybald。Toconcealthislatterdeficiency，whichdidnotproceedfromoldage，heusuallyworeawigformedofanyhair-likematerialwhichpresenteditself-occasionallytheskinofaSpanishdogorAmericangrizzlybear。Atthetimespokenof，hehadonaportionofoneofthesebearskins；anditaddednolittletothenaturalferocityofhiscountenance，whichbetookoftheUpsarokacharacter。Themouthextendednearlyfromeartoear，thelipswerethin，andseemed，likesomeotherportionsofhisframe，tobedevoidofnaturalpliancy，sothattherulingexpressionnevervariedundertheinfluenceofanyemotionwhatever。
Thisrulingexpressionmaybeconceivedwhenitisconsideredthattheteethwereexceedinglylongandprotruding，andneverevenpartiallycovered，inanyinstance，bythelips。Topassthismanwithacasualglance，onemightimaginehimtobeconvulsedwithlaughter，butasecondlookwouldinduceashudderingacknowledgment，thatifsuchanexpressionwereindicativeofmerriment，themerrimentmustbethatofademon。OfthissingularbeingmanyanecdoteswereprevalentamongtheseafaringmenofNantucket。Theseanecdoteswenttoprovehisprodigiousstrengthwhenunderexcitement，andsomeofthemhadgivenrisetoadoubtofhissanity。