he answered.

"`Captain Crowhurst, you'll fight those fellows if they attempt to board
us, won't you?' he said, going up to the skipper. `If you will run all
the guns over to starboard we can give them a broadside which ten to one
will make them sheer off rather than get a further taste of our
quality.'

"The skipper smiled grimly. `But suppose they don't sheer off; depend
on it they will cut the throats of every one of us when they come
aboard. What do you say to that, my young gentleman?'

"`I'd run the risk rather than let the ruffians take the vessel from
us,' answered Mr Rogers, turning away to speak to the colonel, who had
that moment come on deck. He looked up at the canvas hanging idly down
against the masts, and then at the strangers still creeping up towards
us.

"The wind was leaving them as it had us, and he saw in a moment how
matters stood.

"Mr Rogers told him that he and the other midshipmen were ready to
fight and defend the brig to the last.

"`You're brave lads,' he answered. `I thank you heartily. If Captain
Crowhurst thinks there's a chance of beating them off we'll risk it, but
otherwise, for the sake of my daughter, it would be dangerous to make
the attempt.'

"`It's for her sake, sir, that we are anxious to fight,' answered Mr
Rogers.

"`Captain Crowhurst, will your crew support you?' asked the colonel of
the skipper, who had just gone up to him.

"`I doubt it,' he answered. `The fellows are brave enough, but the odds
are fearfully against us. I'll speak to them, and learn what humour
they are in.'

"You'll understand I'd gone aft with the midshipmen. The skipper went
forward, and we saw him speaking to the crew, who were clustered
together, talking among each other.

"In my opinion the skipper himself hadn't much fighting in him, bold and
blustering as he seemed. While he was forward the young lady came on
deck. She judged by the midshipmen's countenances that something was
wrong, though her father looked as stern and determined as usual.

"`I fear that you will be put to some inconvenience,' he said; `those
men-of-war I suspect are sent to overhaul the brig, and, becalmed as we
are, we cannot escape them, but I am very sure that our young friends
here will defend you from insult, and our enemies may be satisfied if
they can get hold of the captain and me.'

"`That we will,' said all the midshipmen together.

"`Oh, my father, do not let me be separated from you. W