aid Fitz; "rather more so than I like. Let's go right forward
again to where the look-out men are."

"To help them keep a sharp look-out for rocks? There are none out here,
or we shouldn't be going at this rate."

"Think that they will come after us?"

"Sure to," said Poole. "Full steam ahead."

"Then they'll see us again at daylight."

"Think so? Why, we have got all the night before us, and the gunboat's
captain isn't likely to follow in our wake."

"I suppose not. It would be a great chance if he did. How beautiful
the water is to-night!"

"Yes! One had no chance to admire it before. 'Tis fine. Just as if
two rockets were going off from our bows, so that we seem to be leaving
a trail of sparks behind."

"Yes, where the water's disturbed," said Fitz. "It's just as if the sea
was covered with golden oil ready to flash out into light as soon as it
was touched."

"Why, you seem quite cheery," said Poole.

"Of course. Isn't it natural after such a narrow escape?"

"Yes, for me," replied Poole banteringly; "but I should have thought
that you would have been in horribly low spirits because you were not
captured and taken on board the gunboat."

"No, you wouldn't," said Fitz shortly. "I know better than that. I
say, you will stop on deck all night, won't you?"

"Of course. Shan't you?"

"Oh yes. I couldn't go to sleep after this. Besides, who can tell
what's to come?"

"To be sure," said Poole quietly. "Who can tell what's to come? In
spite of what old Burgess says, the gunboat may have a consort, and
perhaps we are running out of one danger straight into another."

Perhaps due to the reaction after the excitement, the lads ceased to
chat together, and leaned over the bows, alternately watching the
phosphorescent sea and the horizon above which the stars appeared dim
and few.

Fitz looked more thoughtful as the time went on, his own words seeming
to repeat themselves in the question--Who knows what might happen?

Once they turned aft, to look right astern at where they caught sight
once or twice of the gunboat's light. Then it faded out and they went
forward again, the schooner gliding swiftly on, till at last the mate's
harsh, deep voice was heard giving his orders for an alteration of their
course.

It was very dark inboard, and it was not until afterwards that the two
lads knew exactly what had taken place. It was all in a moment, and how
it happened even the sufferer hardly kn