When the mast was raised, Alexander gave the order for Small and Cromwell to be placed under arrest, and now three figures in irons sprawled upon the open deck and terror stalked the Somers.

Spencer's potential followers were openly sullen and morose, missing muster without excuse, expressing in ominous tones their displeasure at the prisoners being kept in irons, communicating with the three by glance and signal. One of the missing handspikes came out of its hiding place after Midshipman Tillotson had been insolently disobeyed by Seaman Wilson. Tillotson had reported the man to Gansevoort and an hour later, with back turned, had been attacked by Wilson, brandishing the weapon. Wilson, shackled and snarling, was thrown with the other prisoners and was soon joined by Green, McKee and McKinley. Not a man on the brig, loyal or villainous, could be unaffected by the sight of seven men involved in the crime of mutiny.

In the tiny cabin, Alexander met with Gansevoort, Heiser and Wales to speak and to listen. Three days had passed since Spencer's arrest and each day had brought new dangers, new fears.

Gansevoort said, ``It requires an omniscient eye to select those if any on whom we can now rely. To have the Greek paper is not the great help that at first flush it seemed. From actions aboard, it is easy to guess that Spencer's boast of twenty staunch followers was a modest estimate.''