"at sunrise the captain went forward, and knocking on the deck, summoned the prisoners to work; but with a yell they refused. water was then lowered down to them, and a couple of handfuls of biscuit were tossed after it; when again turning the key upon them and pocketing it, the captain returned to the quarter-deck. twice every day for three days this was repeated; but on the fourth morning a confused wrangling, and then a scuffling was heard, as the customary summons was delivered; and suddenly four men burst up from the forecastle, saying they were ready to turn to. the fetid closeness of the air, and a famishing diet, united perhaps to some fears of ultimate retribution, had constrained them to surrender at discretion. emboldened by this, the captain reiterated his demand to the rest, but steelkilt shouted up to him a terrific hint to stop his babbling and betake himself where he belonged. on the fifth morning three others of the mutineers bolted up into the air from the desperate arms below that sought to restrain them. only three were left.