aboard?"

"Not likely, with everything knocked out of my head as it was."

"Oh yes, we've got all these little necessaries. Father goes on the
Volunteer system: `Defence, not Defiance.'"

"Well, that's defiant enough," said Fitz. "It's like saying, `You're
not coming aboard here,' in string."

"Of course. You don't suppose we want a set of half Indian, half
Spanish mongrel sailors taking possession of the _Teal_? You wait till
we get aboard, and you'll see all our lads busy with the fleas."

"Busy with the fleas?" said Fitz. "What do you mean?"

"Those father talked about, to put in the Don's ears before we send them
back."

"How can you go on making poor jokes at a time like this?" said the
middy, in a tone of annoyance. "Why, it looks as if we are in for a
serious fight."

"As if _we_ are!" said Poole, emphasising the "we."

"How many more times am I to tell you that it is our game and not
yours?"

"But look here," said Fitz excitedly. "Your father really does mean to
fight?"

"My father does, and so does every one else," replied Poole. "In oars,
my lads," and the next moment the mate hooked on close to the gangway.
"I suppose," continued Poole, "you will stop on deck till the row
begins? You will want to see all you can."

"Of course," said Fitz, whose face was once more growing flushed.

"Well, I wouldn't stop up too long. The enemy may fire, and you will be
safer down below."

"Yes, I suppose so," said the middy coolly; "and of course you are
coming too?"

"Coming too? That's likely, isn't it?" said Poole contemptuously.

"Just as likely as that I should go and hide."

"But it's no business of yours. You are not going to fight."

"No," said Fitz, "but I want to see."

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

FITZ FORGETS.

The boarding-netting was partially drawn aside, and Fitz noted that more
than ever the crew of the schooner looked like well-trained man-of-war's
men, each with his cutlass belted on, waiting for the next order, given
in the skipper's voice, when the gig's falls were hooked on and she was
run up to the davits and swung inboard, as were the other boats, and
when the lad sprang on deck he saw that the netting was being lowered
down and secured over the gangway.

It was plain enough that from the moment the gig had pushed off, all
hands had been at work preparing to resist attack if an attempt at
capture were made; and once more the middy forgot his own identity as a
naval o