the cook 's mate urquhart , who had been induced to the butchery of the cattle , was cowering behind the stoves with his guilty knives ; five of the ship 's boys more enthusiastic over the meat than the grog had secreted themselves in a corner with a joint and were even in the midst of confusion still tearing away half-raw bites ; two men who had been knocked down were now dazed enough to be compliant and not so drunk as to be useless .