The startling change in the voice of the Rover caused all within hearing of his words to tremble.  Deep, anxious, and threatening displeasure was in all its tones, and each man cast his eyes upwards, to see on whose devoted head the weight of the dreaded indignation of their chief was about to fall.  As there was little but naked spars and tightened ropes to obstruct the view, all became, at the same instant, apprized of the truth.  Fid was standing on the head of that topmast which belonged to the particular portion of the vessel where he was stationed, and the sail in question was fluttering, with all its gear loosened far and high in the wind.  His hearing had probably been drowned by the heavy flapping of the canvas; for, instead of lending his ears to the deep powerful call just mentioned, he rather stood contemplating his work, than exhibiting any anxiety as to the effect it might produce on the minds of those beneath him.  But a second warning came in tones too terrible to be any longer disregarded by ears even as dull as those of the offender.

“By whose order have you dared to loosen the sail?” demanded the Rover.

“By the order of King Wind, your Honour.  The best seaman must give in, when a squall gets the upper hand.”

“Furl it! away aloft, and furl it!” shouted the excited leader.  “Roll it up; and send the fellow down who has been so bold as to own any authority but my own in this ship, though it were that of a hurricane.”

A dozen nimble topmen ascended to the assistance of Fid.  In another minute, the unruly canvas was secured, and Richard himself was on his way to the poop.  During this brief interval, the brow of the Rover was dark and angry as the surface of the element on which he lived, when blackened by the tempest.  Wilder, who had never before seen his new Commander thus excited, began to tremble for the fate of his ancient comrade, and drew nigher, as the latter approached, to intercede in his favour, should the circumstances seem to require such an interposition.

“And why is this?” the still stern and angry leader demanded of the offender.  “Why is it that you, whom I have had such recent reason to applaud, should dare to let fly a sail, at a moment when it is important to keep the ship naked?”

“Your Honour will admit that his rations sometimes slips through the best man’s fingers, and why not a bit of canvas?” deliberately returned the delinquent “If I took a turn too many of the gasket off the yard, it is a fault I am ready to answer for.”

“You say true, and dearly shall you pay the forfeit Take him to the gangway, and let him make acquaintance with the cat.”

“No new acquaintance, your Honour, seeing that we have met before, and that, too, for matters which I had reason to hide my head for; whereas, here, it may be many blows, and little shame.”

“May I intercede in behalf of the offender?” interrupted Wilder, with earnestness and haste.  “He is often blundering, but rarely would he err, had he as much knowledge as good-will.”