ans, but it's something about shutting up prisoners in a
cage. But don't you think, young gentleman, you have been making a big
mistake? But oh, all right--here's the skipper hisself coming on deck."

Fitz turned sharply towards the companion-hatch, to see the head and
shoulders of the skipper as he stood there holding on by the combings,
and swaying to and fro, looking very ill and weak. His voice, too,
sounded feeble as he said huskily, addressing the boatswain--

"Is there any boat alongside, Butters?"

"I arn't seen one, sir," replied the boatswain.

"Any cruiser within sight?"

"No, sir."

"Where's Mr Burgess?"

"Down below, sir. I'm afraid he's got the fever too."

"Tut-tut-tut!" ejaculated the skipper. "There, I needn't ask any
questions. I have heard and seen enough. Mr Burnett, come here. No?
Well, stay where you are. My good lad, have you been too much in the
sun, to begin playing such a silly prank as this? There, no more
nonsense!" he added sternly, and with his voice gathering in force. "It
is evident to me that you don't know what stuff my men are made of. But
I'm too weak to stand talking here. Come and lend me a hand, Poole.
You, my young filibuster, had better come below with me, where you can
talk the matter over like a man. Ha, ha, ha!" he added, with a peculiar
laugh. "There, I'm not angry with you, my boy. I must say I admire
your pluck; but you must see how absurd all this is!"

The midshipman's hands had dropped to his sides, and a strange,
hopeless, bitterly despondent look made his face display so many
incipient wrinkles, the germs, so to speak, of those which in manhood
would some day mark his frank young features.

"It's all over," he groaned to himself; "they are all laughing at me. I
wish I were overboard! What an idiot I have been!"

The laugh was there all ready in the eyes of the crew, and ready to
burst out in a roar, as, thrusting the revolver into his breast, Poole
ran to his father's side, and steadied him as he went back into the
cabin; but not a sound was heard till the way was quite clear and Fitz
stood alone looking wildly about him like some hunted animal seeking a
place of refuge where he might hide. But the lad's choice was limited
to the cook's galley, the cable-tier, and the forecastle-hatch, none of
which would do.

There were only two courses open, he felt, and one was to end his
troubles by going overboard, the other to surrender like a man