the bows of the other two,
and raked them from forrard. He says they'd have struck their colours
in no time. Then prize crews would have been put aboard, and we should
have gone back to port in triumph, with plenty of prize-money, and
promotion to come."

"Almost a pity the old captain was not in command, isn't it?" said Syd,
bitterly.

"He says it is. He thinks it's downright cowardly to run for it like
this. Why, he says even he, young as he is, could have done it."

A sudden snap close at hand made the two lads start and look round, to
see a tall dark figure a few yards away in the act of closing a
night-glass.

"And pray who is the brave and experienced young officer who would have
done all this?" said a cold sarcastic voice, which Syd recognised
directly. "No: stop. Don't tell me, but tell him that it is a great
mistake for young gentlemen in the midshipmen's berth to criticise the
actions of their superior officers, who may be entirely wrong, but
whether or no, their critics are more in error."

"It was--"

"I told you not to name him, sir. I don't wish to know. That will do."

The two boys felt that this was a dismissal, and they hurried away.

"Oh, I say, Belt," whispered Jenkins, "did you hear your father come
up?"

"No; I think he must have been standing there, using his glass, when you
came."

"I did think I saw something black. Oh, I say, Belt, your dad is a
Tartar."

This little episode did not tend to make Syd more comfortable, and from
that hour whenever he saw any of the men or officers talking together,
he immediately fancied that they must be discussing and disapproving of
Captain Belton's action in running away.

It was long afterwards that Syd knew that his father's orders were to
stop for nothing, but to make all speed for the West Indies, where
another vessel of war was lying. Though without those orders it would
have been madness to have allowed the enemy to close in and attack.

Syd was on deck at daybreak, eager to scan the horizon, but only to find
that those before him of the watch had been performing the same duty
with their glasses, and there was not a sail in sight.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

There was plenty of talk during the next fortnight's slow sailing down
into the tropics, and the captain's conduct was widely discussed, Sydney
every now and then coming upon some knot where those who considered the
captain had played a cowardly part were in the ascendant.