ld find they
had such a hedgehog to tackle that they'd soon go back again faster than
they came."

"Do you think your father would do that?" said Fitz, after a glance aft,
to note that they were leaving the gunboat steadily behind.

"Why, of course," cried Poole. "But it's resisting a man-of-war."

"Well, what of that? We didn't boggle about doing it with one of the
Queen's ships, so you don't suppose that dad would make much bones about
refusing to strike to a mongrel Spaniard like that?"

Fitz was silent, and somehow then in a whirl of exciting thoughts it did
not seem so very serious a thing, but brought up passages he had read in
old naval books of cutting-out expeditions and brave fightings against
heavy odds. And then as they went flying through the water the
exhilaration of the chase took up all his attention, and the
conversation dropped out of his mental sight, for it lasted hours, and
during all that time the _Teal_ skimmed along, following out her old
tactics close to a lovely surf-beaten shore, passing bluff and valley
openings where there were evidently streams pouring out from the
mountains to discolour the silver sea, and offering, as the middy
thought, endless havens of refuge, till about the hottest part of the
day, when the pitch seemed to be seething in the seams. All at once the
captain, after a short conversation with his mate, went forward with a
couple of men, and Burgess went himself to take the wheel. "Now then,"
said Poole, "what did I tell you?"

"Do you think we are going to turn in here?"

"That's just what I do think. Here, do you want a job?"

"Yes--no--of course--What do you want me to do?"

"Go and tell the Camel to get the oiliest breakfast he can all ready,
for we are half-starved."

"Don't talk nonsense!" cried Fitz angrily. "What do you mean?"

"Mean? Why, look! Old Grumbo's running us right in for the line of
surf below that bluff. There's an opening there, I'll be bound. Look
at the coloured water too. There must be a good-sized river coming down
from somewhere. Oh, the old fox! He knows what he's about. There's
one of his holes in there, and the hunt is nearly up. I mean, the
little _Teal_ is going in to find her nest."

"Well, I hope you are right," said Fitz quietly; and then he stood
watching while the little schooner seemed as if being steered to certain
destruction, but only to glide by the threatened danger into a wide
opening hidden heretofore,