warning, "Here comes the
doctor! We'll see what he says."

"Won't do," shouted Parson from within. "Won't wash, my boy. Paddy's
down at Shellport. Any more sherbet left, King?"

"I'll go and tell the captain, that's what I'll do," said Pilbury.

"Won't wash again," cried Parson. "There's no captain to tell; I say,
we're leaving something for you, aren't we, you fellows? There'll be
all the heads of the herrings and the greengage stones-- jolly blow-out
for you."

It was no use attempting further parley, and the irate Welchers were
compelled to lurk furiously outside the door while the feast proceeded,
and console themselves with the prospect of paying the enemy out when it
was all over.

But the skill which had accompanied the execution of the raid so far was
not likely to omit all precautions possible to make good a retreat.
While most of the party were making all the noise they could, and
succeeding with jest and gibe in keeping the attention of those outside,
the barricade against the door had been quietly removed, and decks
cleared for the sortie.

"Now then, you fellows," cried Parson to his men, in a voice which those
outside were intended to hear, "make yourselves comfortable. Here's a
stunning lot of peppermint-rock here, pass it round. Needn't go home
for half an hour at least!"

The watchers outside groaned. There was no help at hand; and for one of
them to go and seek it was only to increase the odds against them. The
only thing was to wait patiently till the enemy did come out. _Then_ it
would be their turn. So they leaned up against the door and waited.
The revelry within became more and more boisterous, and the chances of a
speedy retreat more and more remote, when all of a sudden there was a
sharp click and the door swung back hard on its hinges, precipitating
Cusack, Pilbury, and Curtis backwards into the room in among the very
feet of the besieged as, in a compact body, they rushed out. Morrison,
Philpot, and Morgan did what little they could to oppose them but they
were simply run over and swept aside by the wily troop of Parretts, who
with shouts of derisive triumph gained the staircase with unbroken
ranks, and gave their pursuers the parting gratification of watching
them slide down the banisters one by one, and then lounge off arm-in-
arm, sated and jubilant, to their own quarters.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE NEW CAPTAIN'S INTRODUCTION.

Of course a row was made, or attempted t