arp about it! Hurry up there, you
loafers! Come, Burdett, my boy, stir your stumps if you don't want a
wigging from the first luff! Hillo, Jerry! what's that, hot coffee?
Well done, my man, I'll owe you a glass of grog for that! Pour it out
quickly, and rouse out the bread barge."

Jerry was a smart fellow and looked after us well, I will say that for
him. In less than a minute a cup or pannikin of steaming coffee stood
ready for each of us, with the bread barge, well supplied, in the centre
of the table.

"There's no time for eating now, but take my advice and slip a biscuit
into your pocket, each of you, to eat as soon as the boats shove off,"
advised Gowland. "There is nothing worse for a man, in this climate--or
_any_ climate, for the matter of that--than to turn out and go into the
open air in the middle of the night upon an empty stomach." And,
suiting the action to the word, he thrust a biscuit into each of his
side-pockets, placed a morsel in his mouth, and, with the exclamation,
"Well, I'm off!" darted up the ladder and disappeared.

I followed, and, upon reaching the deck, found that all hands were
mustered and waiting for inspection previous to being told off to the
boats. The skipper was in his cabin, but a few minutes later--by which
time all the laggards had put in an appearance--he emerged from the
companion-way and the inspection at once began, great attention being
given, I noticed, to those who were to go in the boats, to insure that
their weapons were in serviceable order, their pistols loaded, and that
each man had his due supply of cartridges. The inspection was conducted
by the first lieutenant, accompanied by the captain and a sergeant of
marines, the latter carrying a lantern, by the rather dim and uncertain
light of which the inspection was made. The moment that this was over
the men who were to participate in the expedition were told off, each to
his proper boat, the boats were lowered and brought to the gangway, and
in less than a quarter of an hour from the moment of our being called we
were off.

The expedition consisted of four boats; namely, the gig, the pinnace,
and the first and second cutters. The gig was a very fine, handsome
boat, beautifully modelled, and exceedingly fast; she was commanded by
the captain himself, who led the expedition--a sure indication of the
important character, in his opinion, of the impending encounter. She
pulled six oars, and in addition to th