answer me this. Warn't it the crack-brainedest bit of
ask-you-to-go-and-borrow-a-new-strait-waistcoat-to-put-me-in sort of
a job for him to bring his two boat-loads of men, like a
black-flag-and-cross-boned Paul Jones sort of a pirate, aboard our
schooner in the dark, thinking he's going to take possession of it to
use instead of his own brig, when if he'd had any gumption he might have
managed to patch her up, and--Here, I say, I can't go on talking like
this before breakfast, my lad. I must have my bowl of coffee and a bit
of salt pork and biscuit before I say another word."

"Oh, very well," cried Rodd merrily. "I see we shan't agree; and we
don't want to quarrel, do we, captain?"

"Quarrel? Not us, my lad! It takes two to do that, and we knows one
another too well."

"Then look here," cried Rodd, "you are taking it very coolly and talking
about breakfast; aren't you going to order the boat out and go aboard
the brig at once?"

"I aren't a-going to do anything till I have had my breakfast," said the
captain. "They've spoilt my morning snooze, but I aren't going to let
them spoil my morning meal, nor my lads' neither."

"But it's urgent," cried Rodd. "Suppose while you are thinking of
eating and drinking the brig goes down?"

"Yah! She won't go down. If she's floated for weeks like that she'll
keep her nose above water while I swallow two bowls of coffee. I can't
work without something to keep me going. Let them pump for another
half-hour, and then we'll go."

"We!" said Rodd sharply. "That means me too?"

"Oh, ah, if you like to come; only we shall have to keep a sharp
look-out."

"What, for fear it should sink under us?"

"Nay, I didn't mean that, my lad. I mean, you see, we are dealing with
a lunatic."

"Captain!" cried Rodd indignantly.

"Ay, but we are, and there's no knowing what sort of games fellows like
that will be up to. I mean to give the mate strict orders to load all
three guns, and if he sees the Count coming off again with his two boats
full of men to take possession while he's got us tight, to sink them
without mercy. Ah, here's the stooard, welcome, as you might say, as
the flowers in spring. Come along, my lad, and let's lay in stores."

In spite of his words and deliberate way of proceeding, Captain Chubb
had made his arrangements so that within half-an-hour of going down to
breakfast he had the schooner's boat lowered down with Joe Cross, five
men, and the carpente