me along then."

A minute or two later Jackum was seated with a big damper cake and a
basin of treacle between his legs, smiling all over his face wherever it
was not coated with molasses, and that was naturally about the mouth.
When they saw him fully occupied Carey and Bostock turned to where the
arms were hidden, and soon after each was provided with a revolver and
gun loaded, and with an ample supply of cartridges.

"Now, Bob," cried Carey, excitedly, "the _Chusan_ is once more our own.
If we fastened up the gangways we could keep all those blacks off."

"What about Jackum?"

"He would obey me now."

"Dessay he would, sir, but what about Old King Cole?"

Carey gazed at him with wrinkled brow and was silent for a few moments,
for the question was hard to answer, and he gave it up.

"Get an axe," he said.

This-was soon done, and they repaired to the saloon skylight, where
Bostock leaned his gun against the erection ready for use if wanted, and
began to use the axe.

At the first blow there was a crash of glass, followed by a revolver
shot from the bottom of the stairs, when Bostock dropped the axe and
seized and cocked his gun.

"The old un's at it, sir. Look out; maybe he's coming out."

"Fire at him if he fires at us," said Carey, excitedly.

"I'm a-going to fire at him, sir, afore he does," said the old sailor,
sturdily. "See my swelled head, sir?"

Carey nodded.

"That's right, sir. Well then, 'cordin' to the rules of the game it's
my first play this time, and yours too."

Carey was silent, and nothing followed the shot.

"He must be disabled, Bob?" whispered the boy. "Go on again."

Bostock struck once more, and there was another shot below, but this
time the old sailor went on, striking again and again, beating out glass
and dividing the cross pieces of wood to make an easy entrance for
anyone to get down. But not a dozen strokes had been delivered before
the black was once more at their side.

"Hullo!" cried Bostock; "you haven't eat all that damper."

"Jackum eat allum damper, allum ticky-ticky. Good!" cried the black,
grinning.

"Well, I couldn't ha' done it myself in the time," said Bostock. "Here,
lay hold."

He pointed to the partially demolished light, which the black seized and
wrenched off, threw it down on the deck, and then, without hesitation,
glided through, and dropped softly into the saloon cabin.

"You go next, Bob."

"Nay, sir, oughtn't you to order me on gu