laimed the captain determinedly.

"Then we've not a moment to lose!" cried Raed.--"Here, Donovan! help
me move the howitzer to the stern.--Kit, you and Wash and Wade get up
the muskets and load them. Bring up the cartridges, and get caps and
everything ready."

The howitzer went rattling into the stern, and was pointed out over
the taffrail. The big rifle followed it. To the approaching boat their
muzzles must have looked a trifle grim, I fancy. Matches and splints
were got ready, as well as wads and balls. The muskets were charged,
and the bayonets fixed. The schooner was kept moving gradually along
at about the same distance from the ice. Bonney was stationed at the
wheel, and Corliss at the sheets. Old Trull stood by the howitzer. The
rest of us took each a musket, and formed in line along the
after-bulwarks. Palmleaf, who in the midst of these martial
preparations had been enjoying a pleasant after-breakfast snooze, was
now called, and bade to stand by Corliss at the sheets. His
astonishment at the sight which the deck presented to his
lately-awakened optics was very great; the greater, that no one would
take the trouble to answer his anxious questions.

The boat had now come up to within a quarter of a mile. With cutlasses
flashing, and oars dipping all together, they came closing in with a
long, even stroke.

"We don't want them much within a hundred yards of us," said Capt.
Mazard in a low tone.

"I'll hail them," replied Raed, taking the speaking-trumpet, which the
captain had brought along.

The crisis was close at hand. We clutched the stocks of our rifles,
and stood ready. There was, I am sure, no blenching nor flinching from
the encounter which seemed imminent. We could see the faces of the men
in the boat, the red face of the officer in the stern. The men were
armed with carbines and broad sabers. They had come within easy hail.

"Present arms!" commanded Capt. Mazard in clear tones.

Eight of us, with our rifles, stood fast.

"Repel _boarders_!"

Instantly we dropped on one knee, and brought our pieces to bear over
the rail, the bayonets flashing as brightly as their own.

"Boat ahoy!" shouted Raed through the trumpet.

"Ahoy yourself!" roared the red-faced man in the stern. "What ship is
that, anyway?"

This was rather insulting talk: nevertheless, Raed answered civilly
and promptly,--

"The schooner-yacht 'Curlew' of Portland."

"Where bound? What are you doing here?"

"Bound on a c