ws as ever looked
danger in the face without flinching, they, on their own accounts, cared
very little whether the craft in sight was a pirate or an honest trader.
But it was now very evident that the speronara had an object in
steering, as she was clearly doing, for the brig, and as that object
could scarcely be otherwise than hostile, there was a possibility of
their being attacked; and with one of those unpremeditated cheers which
British seamen cannot refrain from giving at the thoughts of a skirmish,
every man hastened to buckle a cutlass to his side. Powder and shot
were got up, and the small arms and boarding-pikes were placed by the
sides of the guns, ready at hand, to be seized in a moment. The spirit
of the veteran soldier was instantly aroused in the bosom of Colonel
Gauntlett. As he sniffed the air of battle, the querulous, ill-tempered
old gentleman was changed into the cool and gallant officer. As soon as
Mitchell understood what was likely to happen, he was seen to dive into
the cabin, from whence he soon returned, when going up to his master, he
stood before him anticipating his orders.

"Mitchell, my sword and pistols, and bring me some ammunition, too, mark
me."

The servant's hand rose to his cap, and turning round, he again
descended to the cabin, reappearing in less than half a minute with the
weapons. The colonel buckled on his sword with far greater satisfaction
than a dandy tries on a new coat, and after carefully loading and
priming his pistols, which were of exquisite workmanship, he placed
them, with a look of satisfaction, in his belt. Not a word, however,
did he say while thus employed. The first observation was to his
servant.

"Mitchell," he said, "if that rascally felucca attempts to board us, you
are to act as my reserve, remember. We shall have to charge on to her
deck, or her people will charge on to ours, and you are to keep close
behind me, and support me if I require you."

"Yes, your honour," answered Mitchell, in imitation of his master
fastening a cutlass round his waist. "Is it them chaps in the
night-caps on board the little boat out there we've to fight?"

"It is, Mitchell, the people in that felucca now approaching us," said
the colonel.

"Och, then, by the powers, we'll blow them to blazes with these little
darlins alone;" and thereon he pulled forth from his coat-tail pockets a
pair of huge horse-pistols, of antique date and prodigious bore, which
would alm