”’Fromthebeginningtherewasreallynothingtopreventusfromtakingpossessionoftheship。Thecrewwereasetofruffians，speciallypickedforthejob。Theshamchaplaincameintoourcellstoexhortus，carryingablackbag，supposedtobefulloftracts，andsooftendidhecomethatbythethirddaywehadeachstowedawayatthefootofourbedsafile，abraceofpistols，apoundofpowder，andtwentyslugs。TwoofthewarderswereagentsofPrendergast，andthesecondmatewashisright-handman。Thecaptain，thetwomates，twowardersLieutenantMartin，hiseighteensoldiers，andthedoctorwereallthatwehadagainstus。Yet，safeasitwas，wedeterminedtoneglectnoprecaution，andtomakeourattacksuddenlybynight。Itcame，however，morequicklythanweexpected，andinthisway。”’Oneevening，aboutthethirdweekafterourstart，thedoctorhadcomedowntoseeoneoftheprisonerswhowasill，andputtinghishanddownonthebottomofhisbunkhefelttheoutlineofthepistols。Ifhehadbeensilenthemighthaveblownthewholething，buthewasanervouslittlechap，sohegaveacryofsurpriseandturnedsopalethatthemanknewwhatwasupinaninstantandseizedhim。Hewasgaggedbeforehecouldgivethealarm，andtieddownuponthebed。Hehadunlockedthedoorthatledtothedeck，andwewerethroughitinarush。Thetwosentrieswereshotdown，andsowasacorporalwhocamerunningtoseewhatwasthematter。Thereweretwomoresoldiersatthedoorofthestate-room，andtheirmusketsseemednottobeloaded，fortheyneverfireduponus，andtheywereshotwhiletryingtofixtheirbayonets。
Thenwerushedonintothecaptain’scabin，butaswepushedopenthedoortherewasanexplosionfromwithin，andtherehelaywithisbrainssmearedoverthechartoftheAtlanticwhichwaspinneduponthetable，whilethechaplainstoodwithasmokingpistolinhishandathiselbow。Thetwomateshadbothbeenseizedbythecrew，andthewholebusinessseemedtobesettled。”’Thestate-roomwasnextthecabin，andweflockedinthereandfloppeddownonthesettees，allspeakingtogether，forwewerejustmadwiththefeelingthatwewerefreeoncemore。Therewerelockersallround，andWilson，theshamchaplain，knockedoneofthemin，andpulledoutadozenofbrownsherry。Wecrackedoffthenecksofthebottles，pouredthestuffoutintotumblers，andwerejusttossingthemoff，wheninaninstantwithoutwarningtherecametheroarofmusketsinourears，andthesaloonwassofullofsmokethatwecouldnotseeacrossthetable。Whenitclearedagaintheplacewasashambles。Wilsonandeightotherswerewrigglingonthetopofeachotheronthefloor，andthebloodandthebrownsherryonthattableturnmesicknowwhenIthinkofit。WeweresocowedbythesightthatIthinkweshouldhavegiventhejobupifhadnotbeenforPrendergast。Hebellowedlikeabullandrushedforthedoorwithallthatwereleftaliveathisheels。Outweran，andthereonthepoopwerethelieutenentandtenofhismen。Theswingskylightsabovethesaloontablehadbeenabitopen，andtheyhadfiredonusthroughtheslit。Wegotonthembeforetheycouldload，andtheystoodtoitlikemen；butwehadtheupperhandofthem，andinfiveminutesitwasallover。MyGod！
Wasthereeveraslaughter-houselikethatship！
Predergastwaslikearagingdeveil，andhepickedthesoldiersupasiftheyhadbeenchildrenandthrewthemoverboardaliveordead。Therewasonesergeantthatwashorriblywoundedandyetkeptonswimmingforasurprisingtime，untilsomeoneinmercyblewouthisbrains。Whenthefightingwasovertherewasnooneleftofourenemiesexceptjustthewardersthemates，andthedoctor。”’Itwasoverthemthatthegreatquarrelarose。
Thereweremanyofuswhoweregladenoughtowinbackourfreedom，andyetwhohadnowishtohavemurderonoursouls。Itwasonethingtoknockthesoldiersoverwiththeirmusketsintheirhands，anditwasanothertostandbywhilemenwerebeingkilledincoldblood。Eightofus，fiveconvictsandthreesailors，saidthatwewouldnotseeitdone。ButtherewasnomovingPredergastandthosewhowerewithhim。Ouronlychanceofsafetylayinmakingacleanjobofit，saidhe，andhewouldnotleaveatonguewithpowertowaginawitness-box。Itnearlycametooursharingthefateoftheprisoners，butatlasthesaidthatifwewishedwemighttakeaboatandgo。