bananas--there was no "making of
history" about them, I resolved that without further dallying I would
turn to and capture the French frigate, according to the original
programme. So we upped anchor with the morning tide, and set all sail
for San Salvador.

Of course I had no idea where San Salvador really was. I haven't now,
for that matter. But it seemed a right-sounding sort of name for a place
that was to have a bay that was to hold a French frigate that was to
be cut out; so, as I said, we sailed for San Salvador, and made the bay
about eight bells that evening, and saw the topmasts of the frigate
over the headland that sheltered her. And forthwith there was summoned a
Council of War.

It is a very serious matter, a Council of War. We had not held one
hitherto, pirates and truck of that sort not calling for such solemn
treatment. But in an affair that might almost be called international,
it seemed well to proceed gravely and by regular steps. So we met in my
cabin--the Princess, and the bo'sun, and a boy from the real-life lot,
and a man from among the book-men, and a fellow from No-man's-land, and
myself in the chair.

The bo'sun had taken part in so many cuttings-out during his past career
that practically he did all the talking, and was the Council of War
himself. It was to be an affair of boats, he explained. A boat's-crew
would be told off to cut the cables, and two boats'-crews to climb
stealthily on board and overpower the sleeping Frenchmen, and two more
boats' crews to haul the doomed vessel out of the bay. This made rather
a demand on my limited resources as to crews; but I was prepared to
stretch a point in a case like this, and I speedily brought my numbers
up to the requisite efficiency.

The night was both moonless and star-less--I had arranged all that--when
the boats pushed off from the side of our vessel, and made their way
toward the ship that, unfortunately for itself, had been singled out
by Fate to carry me home in triumph. I was in excellent spirits, and,
indeed, as I stepped over the side, a lawless idea crossed my mind, of
discovering another Princess on board the frigate--a French one this
time; I had heard that that sort was rather nice. But I abandoned the
notion at once, recollecting that the heroes of all history had always
been noted for their unswerving constancy.

The French captain was snug in bed when I clambered in through his
cabin window and held a naked cutlass to his th