The Ocean Cat's Paw, the Story of a Strange Cruise, By George ManvilleFenn. 

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Here we have a full-length book by an excellent author at the very topof his powers. The time is set at the end of the Napoleonic War, andcontinues into the ensuing peace. 

The young hero is first found fishing in a Dartmoor stream, when he isinterrupted by the arrival of a young Frenchman, who, it turns out, hasjust escaped from Dartmoor, where the prisoners-of-war were being kept. Rodd helps him to hide from pursuit. 

Rodd is living with his uncle, who is a doctor, but who also is aresearcher in Natural History. He receives a Government grant to buy aship and travel about in it collecting specimens. On the first trip theweather turns nasty and they have to take shelter in a French port. 

Later in the voyage they meet up with a strange brig, which they realisethey had seen while in France. But she is in difficulty, having beenholed below the waterline in an engagement. At this point they discoverthat her officers include the boy we met in Chapter One, and his father, the Count. The hole is repaired by the skill of the British seamen. 

There's lots more to the story, and we won't spoil it for you, but we dofull-heartedly recommend it to you. The problem in transcribing thebook was tearing oneself away from it, for meals, rest, and otherduties. 

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THE OCEAN CAT'S PAW, THE STORY OF A STRANGE CRUISE, BY GEORGE MANVILLEFENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

RODD THE PICKLE. 

"Here's another, uncle. "

This was shouted cheerily, and the reply thereto was a low muttering, ending with a grunt. 

It was a glorious day on Dartmoor, high up in the wildest part amongstthe rugged tors, where a bright little river came flashing and sparklingalong, and sending the bright beams of the sun in every direction fromthe disturbed water, as an eager-looking boy busily played the trout hehad hooked, one which darted here and there in its wild rush forfreedom, but all in vain, for after its little mad career it was safelybrought to bank, and landed. There was no need to use the light netwhich hung diagonally and unnecessarily across its owner's back, for theglittering little speckled trout was only about the size of a smalldace, though it fought and kicked as hardily as if it had weighed apound, and indulged in a series of active leaps as it was slippedthrough the hole in the lid of a creel, to drop into companionship withhalf-a-score of its fellows, which welcomed the new prisoner with anumber of leaps almost as wild as its own. 

The utterer of the grunt, a stoutly-built man who might have been of anyage, though he could not have been very young, judging from his bristlygreyish whiskers, was also busily occupied, but in a calmer, moredeliberate way. 

He had no creel slung from his shoulder, but a coarse clean wallet thatwas rather bulgy, its appearance suggesting that it was carried becauseit contained something to eat, while its owner held in one hand, slungby a stoutish lanyard, a big, wide-mouthed glass bottle half full ofwater, and in the other hand a little yellow canvas net attached to abrass ring at the end of a stick, the sort of implement that little boysuse when bound upon the chase and capture of the mighty "tittlebat. "And as his younger companion shouted and landed his little mountaintrout, the net was being carefully passed under water, drawn out andemptied upon the fine lawn-like grass, and what looked like a littlescrap of opalescent jelly was popped into the wide-mouthed bottle. 

"You got one too, uncle?" shouted the boy, who was higher up the stream. 

"Yes; some very nice specimens down here. Are you getting plenty ofsport, Rodd?"

"Yes, uncle, " replied the boy, who was carefully examining his tinyartificial gnat before beginning to whip the stream again. "They arerising famously; but they are awfully small. I shall get a dish, though, for supper. "

"Uncle, " as he was called, grunted again, and went on searching amongstthe water-weeds with his net, his tendency being with the stream, whilethe boy, who did not scruple about stepping into the shallows from timeto time, went on whipping away upward towards where one of the tors rosein a chaotic mass of broken, lichen-covered, fragmentary granite, apparently hiding in the distance the source of the little bubbling andsparkling stream. 

Sometimes, as the boy struck in unison with the rise, he missed hisfish, at others he hooked and held it till it broke away, and then againhe transferred another to his creel, as intent upon his sport as hisuncle was upon his pursuit, but still adding and adding to the contentsof the creel for quite an hour. Then, in an interval when the fish hadceased to rise, the boy began to look downward, finding to his surprisethat he was quite alone and close up to the towering mass of time-worngranite, many of whose blocks sparkled in the summer sun with crystalsof quartz, and specks of hornblende, and were rendered creamy by theabundant felspar which held the grains together in a mass. 

"I wonder what's become of Uncle Paul, " muttered the boy. "Have I losthim, or has he lost me? What stuff! One's only got to go down thestream, and he's sure to be there somewhere, dipping for hiswhat-do-you-call-'ems--hydras and germs and buds, and the rest of them. But oh, what a jolly morning it is, and what a jolly place Dartmoor isnow the sun shines! Not very jolly yesterday, though, when the wind wassweeping the rain across in clouds and you couldn't see the tops of thetors for the mist. Oh, but it is beautiful to-day. I do feel jolly!"

The boy let his light tapering rod fall into the hollow of his arm, swung round his creel to the front, and, raising the lid, peered down athis speckled prizes lying upon a bed of newly-picked bracken fronds. 

"Why, there must be fifty, " he cried. "There, I won't stop to count. I'll catch a few more, and guess at fifty. That'll be enough for a nicelot for tea and some more for to-morrow morning's breakfast. Uncle Pauldoes enjoy a dish of trout. Humph! So do I. I suppose it's thisbeautiful fresh air up among the tors, and the tramping. It was a goodlong way up here from the cottage. I suppose it's that makes me feel sojolly hungry. Oh, look at that now! Uncle would carry the wallet, andhe's got all the sandwiches. Never mind; I'll catch a few more of thelittle beauties, and then toddle back to meet him. "

But the boy did not begin to fish directly, but stood gazing round atthe glorious prospect of hill and dale and miniature mountain, here greyand sparkling, there flushed as if with the golden sheen of blossomingfurze, while the lower slopes were of the magnificent purple of theabundant heath. 

"Beautiful!" cried the boy ecstatically. "I am glad that we came uphere to stay. So is dear old uncle. He's revelling in the specimens hegets, and we shall have another jolly night with the microscope. He'llgive me a lecture upon all the little Latin beggars he pops into hisbottle, and another for being so stupid in not recollecting all theircranky names. Never mind; it is jolly. Pity it isn't later, for thenthere'd be plenty of blackberries and whorts. I dare say there'd belots of the little tiny button mushrooms, too, in the lower parts amongthe soft grass. But what's the use of grumbling? Uncle says that I amnever satisfied, and that I am always restless, and I suppose it'sbecause I am a boy. Well, I can't help being a boy, " he musedthoughtfully. "I might have been a girl. Well, girls are restless too. I say, what's that?"

He shaded his eyes again and gazed at a speck of something that lookedbright scarlet in the distance, and then not very far away he made outanother, and again another speck or blotch of bright red. "Now, Iwonder what's growing there, " muttered the boy. "I don't rememberanything scarlet growing and blowing. Poppies? No, I don't think theyare poppies. They are at the edges of the cornfields, and there are nocornfields up here. "

He fixed his eyes more intently upon the scarlet specks, and then burstout laughing. 

"Well, they are not poppies, " he said aloud. "Poppies don't move, andthose are moving, sure enough. There, one of them has gone behind thatblock of stone. Pooh, how stupid! Why, of course!"

He jerked himself round to look in another direction, so sharply thathis creel swung out for a moment from the strap, and came back againsthis hip with a bang, as he stood with his back to the sun, gazing at adistant grey, gloomy-looking pile of stone building, and then nodded hishead with satisfaction. 

"Poppies, indeed! My grandmother! That's what they are. Soldiers fromover yonder. Part of the guard from the great prison, I suppose. Oh, poor beggars! How miserable, when you come to think of it--shut upyonder in that great gloomy place, for I don't suppose they let themcome out much without soldiers to watch them--and all for doing nothing. Doing nothing! Mustn't say that, though, before Uncle Paul, or he'llgo into a rage and begin preaching about Bony and the war, and going onabout the French. Hullo!"

The boy started, for there was a dull thud, apparently from the prison, miles away, followed by a loud echo which seemed to come from close athand, making him turn again as if to look for the spot from which itcame, and seeing it too, for the report of the gun had as it were struckagainst the face of the tor above him, and then glanced off to strikeelsewhere. 

"How queer echoes are!" he muttered. "Yes, and how queer I feel--allhollow. That's made me think about it. I suppose that means twelve orone o'clock dinner-time. Oh, how stupid to go right away from unclelike this! I wish he'd come. But I won't go till I have made my fiftytrout. "

Turning his attention now to the stream, he began whipping away again, and finding that the little trout were rising as well as ever, with theresult that Rodney Harding once more forgot everything else in hispursuit and went on up-stream nearer and nearer to the great tor, tillat last he found himself in a little hollow amongst the rocks where theriver had widened into a pool, hollowed out as it were at the base of agreat cliff. 

"Why, this is the end of it, " he said, pausing to look round and upwardat the towering pile of rocks. "No, it isn't. It must be thebeginning--the source, I suppose they call it. Yes, the stream beginshere, comes right from under that cliff. Why, it's like a little caveout of which the water streams. "

He stopped short and threw his fly once or twice without effect, andthen, moved by curiosity, waded into the shallow rippling water, whichrose a little way above his boots, but as it began to invade histrousers he rolled them up to his knees, before wading onward till hewas stopped by the piled-up cliff face where the water came gliding outand rippled about his legs. 

"Why, it ought to be quite cold, " he muttered, "instead of which it iswarm. "

Then, standing up his rod so that the top rested among the stones, hestooped down, bending nearly double before he could pass in beneath arough stony natural arch and slowly force his way along a narrow passagefor a few feet, before stopping short where the water nearly reached hisknees. 

"Oh, I say! I am not going to break my back short off at the hips bysqueezing in here, " he grumbled. "Besides, it's all dark; and what'sthe good? Here, I know! This isn't the source. This tor is only apiled-up heap of stones, and I dare say if I go round I shall find thelittle river coming in on the other side, and this is where it comesout. Well, let it. Here, I want my lunch. "

He made his way back into the sunshine where all was bright and clearagain, and, taking his rod, stepped out to the edge of the pool, wherethe dry sand felt pleasant and comfortable to his feet, and there hewent on fishing again with more or less success, till he passed out ofthe little amphitheatre to where the rocks fell away on either side, half hidden by the heath and furze. 

"Must have got fifty by this time, " muttered the boy. "Now just onemore to make sure, and then I'll be off, and--Ugh! Who are you? Howyou made me jump!"

The Ocean Cat's Paw--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER TWO. 

AFTER FRENCH PRISONERS. 

There was some reason in Rodney Harding's words, for as he turned fromthe little river he had come suddenly face to face with a thingaunt-looking lad of about his own age, very shabbily dressed and almostragged, who was gazing at him fiercely, and stood with one hand as ifabout to strike. Recovering himself on the instant, Rodney, obeying hisfirst impulse, began to loosen the bottom joint of his rod ready to useit as a weapon--a defence against the expected attack--but in an instantthe strange new-comer dropped his hand to his side, turned quickly awayto look outward across the moor, and then cried wildly, his voicesounding strange of accent, and husky as if from exhaustion--

"No, no, don't hit! I am so weak and so helpless. Help me. Tell me, which way can I go? They are close after me, and I can run no farther. Help!"

The poor wild-looking creature ended by sinking upon his knees amongstthe heath, and raising his hands with a piteous gesture, while hisimploring looks were quite sufficient to move the young fisherman'sheart. 

"Why, who are you?" he cried. "You are not a beggar. "

"No, no! I confess. Oh, _mon ami_--I beg your pardon--sir! I forgot. I confess everything. It was for liberty; we were escaping, but theguard--the soldiers! They have been hunting us down like dogs. "

"A French prisoner?" cried the boy. 

"Ah, _oui_--yes, monsieur. It is my misfortune. But the soldiers. Wehave been separated. "

"Who's `we'?" said Rodney sharply. 

"My father and I. I don't know which way he has gone. They have takenhim perhaps, and now it is no use; I may as well give up, for I can gono farther. "

He sank sideways amongst the heath and fern. 

Rodd looked at him in horror, for the poor fellow seemed as if he wasabout to faint with weakness and misery, while he kept giving utteranceto hysterical gasps as he was plainly enough struggling hard to avoidbursting into a passion of weak girlish tears. 

"Here, I say, don't do that!" cried Rodd, stooping and catching him bythe arm to shake him violently. "You don't know that the soldiers havecaught your father. "

"No, but I feel sure that they must have done so, " cried the poorfellow, rising a little and gazing wildly in the speaker's eyes, whileRodd's energy seemed to galvanise him into action. 

"Well, suppose they have? They'd only take him back into the prisonagain, would they?"

"I--I don't know, " faltered the lad. "I heard firing, and they may haveshot him down and taken him. "

"Yes--may, may, may!" cried Rodd angrily. "But I don't believe oursoldiers would be such brutes. It's only Frenchmen that do such thingsas that. "

"What!" cried the lad, struggling to his feet. "How dare you speak soof our brave fellows! I appealed to you for help, and you insult me. Do you think if you were in France and flying for your life with yourfather--"

"Haven't got one, " said Rodd shortly. "Died before I was born. "

"Do you think then that if you alone had appealed to me for help I wouldhave treated a poor escaping prisoner like this?"

"Oh, come, I say, don't go on like that. Any one would think you were agreat girl. How can I help you? I daren't. What would my uncle say ifhe knew I'd helped a French prisoner to escape from his guards? Youshouldn't, you know. It isn't right nor fair. Just because you havegot into trouble, that's no reason why you should drag another fellowdown too. Look here, what are you running away for?"

"Why?" cried the lad bitterly. "Because I am a prisoner, and I wantedto see my poor father free. "

"Well, look here, " said Rodd huskily; "I am very sorry, you know, andI'd help you if I could, but it's against the law, and--I say! Quick!Don't speak aloud. I can hear some one coming. Yes, it's the soldiers, I think. "

"Oh!" cried the French lad wildly, and he gazed about him with everynerve quivering, his whole aspect being that of some hunted beast withthe dogs close upon his track. 

"Don't get up, " cried Rodd. "I tell you, I mustn't help you; it'sagainst the law; but if I were in your fix I know what I should do. Notafraid of the water, are you?"

"What, swim for my life? Nonsense! In a stream like this!"

"No, no. Wade into that hole opposite yonder, and hide there till thesoldiers are gone. "

"But they'd be sure to look there. "

"Not they! They'd be afraid of spoiling their breeches and gaiters andwashing out the pipe-clay. "

"Ready for you to betray me to them, " whispered the lad bitterly. "No;I'll surrender like a man. "

"Oh!" growled Rodd, between his teeth. "If you weren't such a poor, weak, helpless-looking chap I'd hit you on the nose. How dare you speakto me like that?"

He raised his hand as if to strike, but there was a ring in his wordswhich had thrilled the fugitive, who to Rodd's astonishment caught thehand in his, and quick as thought pressed it to his lips, and thendashed into the water and splashed his way to the mouth of the hole. The next moment the disturbed stream was the only trace left, for thefugitive had disappeared. 

The young fisher stood gazing blankly at the low dark mouth of the hole, listening with every nerve on the strain for some sound from thehiding-place to strike his ear; but there was none. From behind, though, there came a loud voice, shouting--

"Here, this way; up by the stream!"

In an instant Rodd was full of action. Turning his back to the holeacross the pool, he began to whip the surface with such effect that atthe third cast there was a quick rise and he was fast in by far thebiggest trout he had caught that day, though small enough all the same;and with knit brows he was playing it carefully just as a redcoat, followed by three or four more, came up at the double to the exit end ofthe pool and halted to stare at him wonderingly. 

"Hi, young fellow!" shouted the leader, whose stripes betokened thesergeant. "What are you doing here?"

Rodd, whose heart was thumping against his ribs from excitement, did notso much as raise his eyes from the surface of the pool, but with teethset, lips pursed up, and brows heavily knit, kept on playing his fish, paying not the slightest heed to the speaker and his companions. 

"Fishing, eh?" said the sergeant, who, in spite of his important errand, could not take his eyes from the darting trout. "I say, we are after anescaped prisoner, and he came somewhere up here. Which way has hegone?"

Rodd did not take his eyes from the frantic darting of the fish, butgave line in silence as it flashed through the water to the far side ofthe pool, while the soldiers grounded arms and looked on with thedeepest interest. 

"Prisoners escaped, " said the sergeant loudly, as he, too, still gazedat the rushings of the trout--"Frenchman--came up this way--Yes, a big'un, youngster--Mind! You'll lose him!--One was quite a lad, and--Welldone! You have got him yet!--We saw him run up this way, and--Welldone!--You have handled a fly-rod before--Did you see anything of him?"

"Eh? What?" said another voice sharply, and a fresh comer suddenlyappeared upon the scene in the shape of Uncle Paul, who stared inastonishment at the group as he stepped into the little amphitheatrefrom behind the rocks. 

His appearance acted like magic upon the soldiers, who brought theirmuskets to the carry, while the sergeant sprang to attention andsaluted. 

"After escaped prisoners, sir. Asking the young gentleman if he had gotone of them up here. "

"Pooh! Nonsense! Absurd!" cried the gentleman addressed, just as Roddbrought his fish to land and went down on one knee to grip it in hisleft hand. "Prisoners, no!" literally barked the fresh comer, settingdown his bottle and net, and taking off his straw hat to wipe hisstreaming face with a big yellow and red bandanna handkerchief. "Here, Rodd, boy, " he cried, with a chuckle, "empty your pockets and then openyour creel and show the sergeant how many prisoners you have caught. Hot up here, my lad!" he continued, and the sergeant and men grinned. "Thirsty?"

"Yes, sir, " said the sergeant, grinning; "pretty tidy. We have had aprecious good run. "

"Well, there's plenty of beautiful water. Shall I lend you mydrinking-cup?"

"Thankye, sir, " said the sergeant. 

"Thankye, indeed!" said the bluff speaker, with a chuckle, and he thrusthis hand into his pocket. "There you are; there's a shilling for you toget some cider. I dare say you know where better than I can tell you. No, we have seen no prisoners. "

"Thank you, sir! You are a gentleman, " said the sergeant. "Didn't wantto interfere with the young gent's sport, but we had got our duty to do. Left face, my lads! Forward!" And the next minute the military partywere on the tramp, to pass through the entrance to the littleamphitheatre and disappear, just as Uncle Paul was lowering himselfgently down upon a huge boulder stone and dragging round the walletwhich hung from his right shoulder. 

"Phew!" he gasped. "Pretty job I have had to find you, Pickle! I tooka short cut, as I thought, and it proved a long one. I have had around. Aren't you hungry, boy?"

"Starving, uncle, " replied the lad, as he dropped the fish into thecreel, hooked his fly on to one of the rings, and tightened the line. "But let's come out here on to the heath. It will be more soft andcomfortable to sit down. "

"Bah!" barked Uncle Paul. "I am not going to stir again till I have hadsomething to eat and a rest. There, lay your rod down. Bother thesoldiers! There was another party of them out yonder, shouted at me tostop, and because I didn't, made as if they were going to fire. Yes, they had better! But I had to stop; and then they began questioning meabout their escaped French prisoners, and wanted to know who I was andwhere I was going, and I thought that they were going to make me aprisoner and march me off yonder, only I showed them my card and askedthem if I sounded like a French prisoner. They were civil then, and Igave them a shilling. That's two shillings I have fooled away out hereon this moor, where I should have said it wasn't possible for a man tospend a farthing. Come on; help yourself, " and he held out the walletfor his companion to take one of the big sandwiches it contained. 

"I think we had better go on outside, uncle, " said the boy. "There'smore breeze out there, and the rocks don't reflect the heat. "

"Do you?" said Uncle Paul, with his mouth full. "There's quite windenough in here to keep me alive, and I am so hot I don't want to go outto be blown on and catch cold. --My word, the old lady didn't forget themustard! Come, eat away, Pickle. Let's start fair, or you will soon bea sandwich behind. My word, what an appetite this air does give one!"

"Yes, uncle, " said the boy, who, in spite of an effort to controlhimself, could not help darting an anxious glance from time to time atthe opening between the rocks. 

"Capital sandwiches, Pickle, " continued the uncle, eating away with themost intense enjoyment. "One doesn't want any other pickle with these. What does the old proverb say--Hunger's sweet sauce. Hullo! what areyou getting up for?"

"Oh, I am going on eating, uncle, " replied the boy. "I was only goingto walk to the end and see how far the soldiers had gone. "

"Hang the soldiers, sir!" cried the elder irascibly. "I wish they'dkeep in their barracks instead of coming hunting their prisoners allover this beautiful countryside. Sit down and go on eating. "

The boy resumed his place, and began making half-moons in the edge ofhis sandwich and trying to munch hard; but somehow his appetite wasgone, and before he was half through the second sandwich he watched hisopportunity, slipped it into his pocket, and as his uncle turned roundto look at him he leaned forward and helped himself to a third from thewallet. 

"Ah, that's better! Eat away, boy. We have got a long walk back, andyou will have plenty of appetite for a good high tea. Hang theprisoners as well as the soldiers. If I had known that this great cagefull of Bony's French frogs was up here I don't believe I should havecome--that is, unless I thought that Nap himself was a prisoner heretoo, when I might have been tempted to come and have a grin at the wildbeast in his cage. Eh, what? What did you do that for?"

He looked curiously at his nephew, who, after a glance across the pool, had involuntarily stretched out one hand to grip his elder's arm. 

"Do you hear me, sir?" he cried sharply. "Why did you pinch my arm likethat?"

The boy, whose face had looked rather white the moment before, flushedscarlet, and stammered out something confused and strange. 

"Why, hullo, boy!" cried his uncle sharply, and he leaned forward inturn and caught the lad by the wrist. "Why, what's the matter with you?Haven't been overdoing it in the sun, have you? Here, take my cup andhave a glass of water. "

"No, no, uncle; I am quite right. There's nothing the matter with me. It's--it's--it's--"

"It's what?" said Uncle Paul sharply, as he gazed full in the boy's eyesand held tightly by his wrist. "Well, it's what?"

"Perhaps I am a bit tired, uncle. I have been working very hard, and Iturned faint and hungry a little while ago. "

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul. "Then do as I tell you. Drink a cup ofthat clear cold water. "

"That's better, " he continued, a few minutes later. "Now eat anothersandwich. No nonsense, sir! Do as I tell you!"

The boy sighed and helped himself to another of the double slices andtheir contents, and for the next few minutes no word was spoken, thepair sitting opposite to one another and munching or ruminating steadilyaway, the younger feeling as if every mouthful of which he partook wouldchoke him. 

"Hah!" said Uncle Paul, at last; "it is a drawback to this beautifulplace. The colours of the heath are glorious, and the views from uphere are grand. I got some good specimens too, ready for ourmicroscopic work to-night; and that was a nice trout you caught. Howmany did you get, boy?"

"Only one, uncle, " said the boy vacantly. 

"What!"

"I didn't see the other, uncle. "

Uncle Paul drew a deep breath and fixed the boy with his eyes, as hesaid quietly--

"I asked you how many trout you got, Pickle. "

"Oh, about fifty, uncle. Creel's half full. "

"Ah! Then we will have some for high tea to-night, and some forbreakfast in the morning, and give our landlady the rest. Nice womanthat; full of stories about the prisoners, and Bony and his wretchedscum. Ugh! The very name of the rascal raises my bile, and--There, Ithink I had better take you home and give you a dose. "

"Yes, let's go on back now, uncle, " said the boy eagerly, "but indeed, indeed I don't want a dose. "

"Humph! Then pray why did you grip hold of my arm again like that, andstare across yonder over my shoulder as if you could see a raven hidingin one of the holes?"

"Oh no, uncle, " cried the boy, with a forced laugh. "I couldn't seeanything. "

"Ha, ha!" ejaculated Uncle Paul. "Now, look here, Pickle; you and Ihave always had a sort of tacit agreement that we'd play fair together, and that there should be a mutual confidence. "

"Yes, uncle, of course, " cried the boy, whose face was burning. 

"Very well, then, you are breaking truce. You are not playing the game, sir. "

"Uncle!"

"Pickle! Now then, sir, out with it. You have seen those Frenchprisoners. "

"Uncle!"

"Yes, sir. Why did you pinch my arm--twice? Now then, honour!"

"I--I--You were talking about Bonaparte. "

"Well, what of that?"

"I was afraid he'd hear you, uncle. "

"What!" cried the other, and his mouth opened wide. "Bony! Here?"

"No, uncle, of course not, but one of the young prisoners. He wasescaping. "

"And you--you have turned traitor to your King, and been hiding aprisoner of war from his guard! Why, you young scoundrel! You lied tothat sergeant, and said you hadn't seen them. "

"I didn't, uncle!" cried the boy hotly. "It was you. "

"Eh? What?" roared the elder. "You dare to! Eh?--Ah--so I did! Butthen I didn't know. "

"No, uncle, and if you had seen and heard the poor lad as I did, I amsure you wouldn't have betrayed him. "

"Betray! It isn't betraying, sir, to give up a prisoner of war. "

"I felt as if it would be, uncle, under such circumstances, " said Rodd, who began noting that his uncle had lowered his voice, and that hisangriest words had been uttered in a whisper. 

"Look here, my boy, " he said now quite softly, "I knew that there wassomething up, or you would have been wolfing more than your share ofthose sandwiches. I saw you keep squinting at that hole over yonder. So you have hid him away there?"

"No, uncle, " said Rodd; "I did nothing, but just as the soldiers werecoming up, and he'd been begging and praying me to save him, I just saidthat that would be a good place to hide. "

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul. "It was very wrong, my boy--very wrong;but look here, Pickle, is the poor fellow badly wounded?"

"No, uncle; only exhausted. He looked just like that hunted deer we sawthe other day. "

"Hah!" said Uncle Paul, nodding his head. "Humph! Well, you know, myboy, it isn't the thing, and we should be getting into no end of troubleif it were known. It's against the law, you know, and if you had caughthim and held him you would have got a big reward. "

Rodd got up and laid his hands upon his elder's shoulders as he lookedhim fixedly in the eyes. 

"I say, uncle, " he said, "you have been questioning me. It's my turnnow. "

"Yes, Pickle; I'll play fair. It's your turn, " said Uncle Paul. "Whatis it you want to say?"

"Only this, uncle. Would you have liked me to earn that reward?"

"Hah! I say, Pickle, my lad, would you like any more sandwiches?"

"No, uncle. "

"Then isn't it about time we began to make for home?"

Uncle Paul rose and led the way down-stream, gazing straight before him, and though he must have seen, he took no notice of the fact that Rodddid not throw the strap of his creel of fish over his shoulder, but leftit by the side of the stone, along with the wallet, through whose gapingmouth a second packet of big sandwiches could still be seen. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

MRS. CHAMPERNOWNE'S PAN. 

Mr Robson, when he came up from Plymouth for a natural historyexpedition into Dartmoor, did not select a hotel for his quarters, forthe simple reason that such a house of accommodation did not exist, buttook what he could get--a couple of tiny bedrooms in the cottage of awidow whose husband had been a mining captain on the moor; and thereafter a long tramp they returned on the evening after the adventure, tofind their landlady awaiting them at the pretty rose-covered porch, eager and expectant and ready to throw up her hands in dismay. 

"Why, where are the fish?" she cried--"the trout?"

"Eh?" said Uncle Paul. 

"The fish, sir--the fish. I've got a beautiful fire, and the lard readyin the pan. I want to go on cooking while you both have a good wash. You told me that you would be sure to bring home a lot of trout for yoursupper, and I haven't prepared anything else. "

"Bless my heart! So I did, " said Uncle Paul. "Here, Pickle, where arethose trout?"

Rodd gave his uncle a comical look, and stood rubbing one ear. 

"Ah, uncle, " he cried, "where are those trout?"

Uncle Paul screwed up one eye, and he too in unconscious imitation beganto rub one ear. 

"Ah, well; ah, well, " said the landlady, "I suppose you couldn't helpit. I have had gentlemen staying here to fish before now, and it's beena basketful one day and a basket empty the next. Fish are what theScotch call very kittle cattle. Never mind, my dear, " she continued toRodd. "Better luck next time. Fortunately I have got plenty of eggs, and there's the ham waiting for me to cut off some more rashers. "

As she spoke the woman hurried into her kitchen, from which sharpcrackling sounds announced that he was thrusting pieces of wood underthe kettle, and as she busied herself she went on talking aloud so thatthey could hear--

"Did you hear the gun fire, sir, somewhere about one o'clock?"

"Yes, " grunted Uncle Paul. "Dinner-time, and we ate your sandwiches, Mrs Champernowne. They were delicious. "

"I am very glad, sir. But, oh dear no, that wasn't the dinner-bell. That meant that some of the prisoners had escaped. Poor fellows! Ialways feel sorry for them. "

"Mrs Champernowne!" cried Uncle Paul, and Rodd, who was in his roomwith his face under water, raised it up, grinning, for he knew hisuncle's peculiar ways by heart, and he went on listening to what wassaid. 

"Oh, yes, sir, " cried the landlady, with her voice half-drowned by asudden flap and a sizzling noise which indicated, without the appetisingodour which soon began to rise to Rodd's nostrils, that their landladyhad vigorously slapped a thick rasher of pink-and-white ham into the hotfrying-pan; "I know what you think, sir, and what you told me only lastnight about being a loyal subject of King George, and these being ournatural enemies, whom we ought to hate. "

_Ciss_! went the ham, and Rodd felt as if he should like to shout "Hear, hear!"

"But I can't help remembering what I hear at church about forgiving ourenemies; and I am sure you would, sir, if you knew what I do about thosepoor fellows, torn away from their own people and shut up behind prisonbars, and all for doing nothing. "

Just then there was a little spluttering noise as if the pan werechuckling. 

"For doing nothing!" shouted Uncle Paul, and a sound from his roomsuggested that he had set down the washhand jug with a bang. "Thescoundrels who invaded our shores?"

_Ciss_! said the pan. 

"That they didn't, sir!" cried the landlady. "They didn't even try; andeven if they had there were all our brave fellows round the coasts whowould soon have stopped them. "

"Hear, hear!" cried Rodd, very softly, for he was speaking into hissweet-scented towel, whose scent was that of fresh air and wild thyme. 

"Well, well, that's right, " shouted Uncle Paul; "but they wanted to. "

_Whish-ish_, went the pan, and there was a good deal more spluttering, and in his mind's eye Rodd saw the great rasher turned right over, tobegin sizzling again. 

"And I don't believe that, Dr Robson, " cried the landlady sturdily. "Don't you know that the poor fellows over yonder never get good honestshillings given to them and are enlisted of their own free will like ourlads at home, but they are dragged away and are obliged to fight; and itwas all owing to the angry jealousy and covetousness of that dreadfulman, Bony, who has been the cause of all the trouble. "

"Hah!" roared Uncle Paul, in a voice that almost shook the diamond-panedcasement. "Say no more, Mrs Champernowne. You are quite right, and Iadmire your sympathies. Madam, you are a lady!"

"Oh, really, Dr Robson--"

"I repeat it, madam, you are a lady, and I applaud everything you havesaid. But what about that gun?"

"Oh, dear me, yes, sir; I was just going to tell you, but you put it allout of my head. It was the alarm gun to tell everybody that prisonershad escaped, so that all the people on the moor could join the soldiersin scouring the place as they called it, and hunting the poor Frenchmendown for the sake of the reward. Yes, I'd reward them if I had my way!Hunting their poor fellow-creatures, who are only trying for theirliberty!"

"H'm! Ha!" grunted Uncle Paul, and there was a huckabacky sound abouthis words. 

There was another furious hissing from the pan, followed by a freshslap, for a second great rasher had been thrust in _vice_ number onenicely cooked and just placed in the hot dish that had been intended fortrout. 

"Did they catch them, Mrs Champernowne?" shouted Uncle Paul. 

"I haven't heard, sir, " was the reply; "but dear, dear, they are prettywell sure to, for there's not much chance for the poor fellows. Oh, itmakes my heart bleed when I hear sometimes that one of them has beenshot down by the soldiers. "

Rodd went on tip-toe across the creaking floor to open his door a littlefarther, listening with strained ear, for his bright young imaginationpictured the thin pale youth, wild-eyed and breathless, out of hishiding-place and running for liberty across the open moor, and hearingagain the distant reports of the muskets. 

"But that doesn't often happen, sir, for between you and me and thepost, seeing that the prisoners are only soldiers, after all, I don'tbelieve that though they have their orders, our men ever try to hitthem; and very glad I am. "

"Ah, ah, ah, Mrs Champernowne, that isn't loyal, you know, that isn'tloyal to his Majesty the King and your country. "

"I can't help that, Dr Robson, and I am not speaking, sir, as asubject, but as a woman and a mother who has a brave stout boy in ourgood King's Guards. Now suppose, sir, that you were a mother. " UnclePaul grunted audibly. 

"And had a boy the same as I have, and Bony Napolyparty had taken himprisoner. How would you like him to be shot down?"

Rodd literally jumped in his alarm, for there was a tremendously wildcissing from the pan and a horrible suggestion therewith that MrsChampernowne had been turning the rasher with so much energy that shehad thrown the cooking slice on to the fire itself instead of into itsnative pan, while a sudden gush as of hot burning fat came up the littlestairs. 

But the pleasant sizzling sounds began again directly, and Rodd, who wasravenously hungry, consequent upon the bad part he had played over thesandwiches beneath the tor, sighed in relief as he realised that thewidow's energetic treatment had only splashed a little of the fat overthe side of the pan. 

As Rodd listened for a continuation of the political discussion, inwhich it seemed to him that Uncle Paul had got the worst of it, forneither the widow nor he spoke for the next three or four minutes, andthe pan had it all its own way, there was some creaking of the boards asthe naturalist stumped about, and when he did speak it was evident thathe thought it wise to change the subject. And it was the inner man whonow spoke--

"Our tea-supper nearly ready, Mrs Champernowne?"

"Oh yes, sir. The second rasher's about done. How many eggs shall Icook?"

"Oh, one, or perhaps two, for me, " shouted Uncle Paul. 

"Oh, I say!" muttered Rodd. 

"Better cook eight or ten for my nephew, " cried the doctor dryly. "He'll eat like a young wolf. "

"What a shame!" muttered Rodd. "I'll serve him out for this. "

"Fried, of course, sir?" came from the kitchen. 

"Murder, woman, no!" roared Uncle Paul. "Fry! That is wildwest-country ignorance, madam! Are you not aware, madam, that theaction of boiling fat upon albumen is to produce a coagulate leatherymass of tough indigestible matter inimical to the tender sensitivelining of the most important organ of the human frame, lying as it doeswithout assimilation or absorption upon the epigastric region, andproducing an irritation that may require medical treatment to allay?"

"Dear, dear, dear, dear me, no, sir! Really, you quite fluster me withall those long words. Who ever heard that fried ham and eggs were badfor anybody?"

"Then I tell you now, madam, " shouted the doctor, "that--"

"Don't you take any notice, Mrs Champernowne, " shouted Rodd. "It'sonly uncle's fun. "

"Wuff!" went Uncle Paul, with a snap like that of an angry dog. "Wuff!"

"Fried, please, Mrs Champernowne; four for uncle and three for me. "

"Umph!" grunted the doctor, and a few minutes later he and his nephew, hunger-sharpened and weary-legged, were seated facing one another in thewidow's pleasant little parlour, hard at work, and risking all thedireful symptoms upon which the elder had discoursed, and thoroughlyenjoying hearty draughts of Mrs Champernowne's fragrant tea. 

There was silence in the kitchen, following the final hissings andodours emitted by the hard-worked pan, but a great deal of business wenton in the little parlour, the first words that were spoken being byUncle Paul, who growled out--

"Here, I suppose you had better tell the old lady to put on anotherrasher of ham to fry. "

"For you, uncle?" said Rodd archly. 

"No, sir, for you. You traitorous young dog, leaving all thosebeautiful trout up on the moor to be devoured by the enemies of yourcountry!"

"Well, they can't eat them raw, uncle. "

"Why not, sir? They are only so many ravening savages, ready to breatheout battle and slaughter if they got free. "

"That poor boy didn't seem much of a savage, uncle, " said Rodd quietly;and after a sidelong glance to see whether he dared say it, the boycontinued tentatively, "I wish the poor fellow had been here to havethis ham. "

"What!" roared his uncle fiercely. "Bah! You wouldn't have left him amouthful. Wolf--raven!"

"Yes, I would, uncle. I'd have left him all. "

"Umph!" grunted Uncle Paul, taking up a very thin, old, much-worn silvertable-spoon and looking at it with the eye of a connoisseur. "H'm! Ha!Queen Anne. "

"She's dead, uncle, " said the boy. 

"Well, I know that, don't I?" growled Uncle Paul, as he tilted the emptydish, and carefully scraped all the golden brown fat and gravy to oneside, getting together sufficient to nearly fill the spoon, and thenmaking as if to put it upon his own plate, but with a quick gesturedabbing it down upon Rodd's. 

"Fair play, uncle!" shouted the boy. 

"Bah!" grunted the doctor. "Cut me a thin slice of bread, all crumb, Pickle. Thunder and lightning! I have got the best share, after all;"and then, with his face puckered up into a pleasant smile, he inserted afork into the newly-cut slice of home-made bread, and began passing itround and round the dish until it had imbibed the remains of the liquidham and the golden new-laid eggs, when he deposited it upon his ownplate with a triumphant smile which seemed to Rodd to make him lookfive-and-twenty years younger. 

"Shall I fill another cup of tea for you, uncle?" cried Rodd; and by theway, they were breakfast cups. 

"No, no, Pickle; I--I--er--well, say half. "

At that moment the door was opened, and, looking hot and out of breath, their landlady entered. 

"I hope you haven't been waiting for anything, gentlemen, " she cried, giving the table a comprehensive glance. "I am so sorry. I will cookanother rasher or two directly. "

"Madam, no, " said Uncle Paul didactically. "What does the great classicauthor say?"

"Really I don't know, sir, " cried Mrs Champernowne, with a perplexedlook wrinkling up her pleasant face. "But it won't take many minutes. "

"Enough, madam, is as good as a feast. This has been a banquet, eh, Pickle? I never enjoyed anything half so much before in my life. Theham was tenderness itself, the eggs new-laid--the bread--the butter--thetea--eh, Pickle?"

"Delicious, uncle. "

"The fat of the land, Mrs Champernowne, " continued the doctor; "theriches of these smiling pastures. Now if your friend Napoleon Bonapartehad come with his locusts to devastate the land, his hordes such as wehave seen safely imprisoned yonder--"

"Yes, sir, " interrupted Mrs Champernowne eagerly; "that's what I cameto tell you. I thought I might just run over to my neighbour's, whosemaster has come back from the hunt, and I thought that you would like tohear. Those two French prisoners have got right away. "

"Hooray!" shouted Rodd, springing from the chair, and to MrsChampernowne's astonishment catching her round the waist and waltzingher about the room. "Three cheers for the poor prisoners! Hurrah!Hurrah! Hurrah!"

And Uncle Paul pushed back his chair, puckered up his forehead, staredhard at his nephew, and grunted out--

"Humph!"

"Oh, my dear, don't! Pray don't!" panted Mrs Champernowne, whom Naturehad made middle-aged, round and plump. "You are taking away all mybreath. But my neighbour's master says that he thinks they have madefor Salcombe, where they will perhaps get aboard one of the orange boatsand be put back in their own country. "

"Hah!" said Uncle Paul, leaning back in his chair to take hold of hisbunch of seals and haul up by the broad watered silk ribbon the bigdouble-cased gold watch that ticked away from where it reclined warm andcomfortable at the bottom of his fob. 

 "Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks!"

"That was a very fine tea, Mrs Champernowne. Now, Pickle, my boy, Ithink it would be very nice to go and sit for half-an-hour in the arbourunder the roses, while I kill the green fly--the aphides, MrsChampernowne--which increase and multiply at a rate which is absolutelymarvellous. Pickle, my boy, I hope you will never grow up as weak andself-indulgent as your uncle. Fill me my long clay pipe. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

OH, SUMMER NIGHT!

Mrs Champernowne's arbour was a very homely affair, consisting of fourfir poles to form as many corners, and a few more nailed and peggedtogether to form gables. Nature built all the rest with roses andhoneysuckle and some vigorous ivy at the back, the roses spiring up, thehoneysuckle creeping in and out among the long strands and holding themtogether, while the ivy ran rapidly up the back till it could grow nohigher, and then began to droop down till it had formed itself into athick curtain which kept out the wind. 

There was a very rustic table in the middle, formed by nailing twopieces of plank on to a tree stump, and a couple of seats, one on eachside, pierced with holes that had once upon a time been made by shipcarpenters' augers, when the wood was built up over the ribs of somestout ship which long years after was bumped to pieces by the waves uponthe rocks and then cast up upon the southern shore, to be bought up andcarted all through the county. 

Yes, it was a very rustic place, but it suited its surroundings, andUncle Paul looked supremely happy as he sat there slowly smoking hispipe and gazing dreamily before him at the beautiful landscapestretching far, and the garden of the one cottage within reach only ashort distance away from the plot of ground where by the help of theneighbour sufficient potatoes were grown for the widow's use. "What asilent, peaceful evening, Pickle, " said Uncle Paul. "Look yonder in theeast; the moon will be up soon, and then it will be night, and we havedone no work. How do you feel, my boy?"

"Tired and stupid, uncle. My legs ache right down to the ankles. "

"No wonder, hopping about amongst those granite boulders. My back's abit stiff too. There, let's go into the parlour, light up, and then youshall fetch down the microscope. "

"Oh, not yet, uncle!--I say, have another pipe. "

"A vaunt, you young tempter! Trying to lead me astray into idleness!No, let's get in. We have been playing all day; now let's go and get abit of work done before we lie down to sleep. "

"But I say, uncle, do you think that Napoleon will ever start anotherwar in France?"

"Who knows, boy? His goings-on have brought nearly everything to astandstill, and there has been war enough to last for a hundred years. "

"Yes, uncle; but do you think that Napoleon and the war put a stop toyour expedition that you were to make in a vessel of your own?"

"Of course I do, Pickle, " said Uncle Paul, smoking very slowly now, withhis eyes shut, so as to make the little incandescent mass at the bottomof his bowl last for a few minutes longer. "Government promised me andmy friends to make a grant for the fitting out of a small vessel, andfor the payment of a captain and crew, and it was voted that we shouldhave it; but do what we might, my friends and I could never get thecash, and it has always been put off, put off, on account of theexpenses of the war. "

"But, uncle--" began Rodd. 

"No, you don't, sir, " said Uncle Paul, with a soft chuckle. "None ofyour artfulness! You are trying to lead me on to prattle about Bony, soas to avoid my lecture upon the fresh-water polypes I have taken to-day. Get out, you transparent young scrub! In with you, and fetch down thecase, and light the two candles on the parlour table. Nice innocent wayof doing it. Think I couldn't see through you, sir? Be off!"

A few minutes later Uncle Paul's pipe was cooling on the parlourchimney-piece, kept almost upright by the waxy end leaning against aglass tube which had been formed into a sort of ornamental rolling-pinto be suspended over the fire, and to be much treasured by its owner. 

It was not a very aesthetic piece of art or ornamentation, being onlycomposed of coloured flowers carefully cut out of a piece of chintz, before being gummed upon the inside of the glass tube. This was thenfilled up with salt, and the ornament was complete. 

The candles were burning brightly after each application of thesnuffers; the polished mahogany microscope case stood on a side-table, and the brass tube that had been taken out was ready to receive one ofthe many slips of glass, some of which had little cup-like hollowsground out of one side ready for receiving a tiny drop of water and oneor other of the specimens, the result of the past day's search. 

Uncle Paul was on one side of the table with his big glass bottle; Roddsat on the other, with his chin resting in his hands, trying to listento his uncle's discourse, and with his eyelids drooping down now andagain. 

"Bother the flies and moths!" said Uncle Paul testily. "Who's to workwith them circling round and round the candles, trying to singethemselves to death? What's that white one, boy?"

"Ghost moth, uncle, " replied Rodd sharply, his uncle's question seemingto rouse him up to attention. 

"Good boy! Well named. Trying hard to make a ghost of itself too. Why, there's a great Daddy Longlegs now! Here, you'll have to shut thewindow. "

"Oh, don't, uncle! It will make the room so hot. "

"Umph! So it will. Very tiresome, though, when one's trying to work. Now then, let me see; let me see. I want to examine this hydra, but Imust put on a lower power, and--Oh, dear, dear, dear! Gnats! Moths!Tipulae and--Really, really, Pickle, that lamp gives no light at all;"and Uncle Paul leaned forward, took a pin out of the edge of hiswaistcoat, and began to prick at and try to raise the wick of thereflecting microscope lamp. 

Then there was a little catastrophe, for after a most vigorousapplication of the pin the wick seemed to resent it as if it were somekind of sea worm, and drew back out of reach into its little brass cell. 

"There, now I've done it!" said Uncle Paul. "Did you ever see anythingso tiresome in your life, Pickle?"

"Yahah!" sighed the boy slowly. 

"Why, what are you doing? Yawning!" cried Uncle Paul. "You are aboutthe sleepiest chap I ever knew. There, I am afraid I shall have to waitfor to-morrow morning's sunshine. Clear away, or help me. Let's puteverything on a side-table, and I'll tell Mrs Champernowne that sheisn't to touch what she sees there. "

"Yes, uncle, " said the boy, with something like alacrity, as the tablewas cleared and the candles re-snuffed, the effect of opening andshutting the snuffers seeming to act upon Rodd and making him yawnwidely, while quite involuntarily Uncle Paul did the same. "Now then, "said Uncle Paul. 

"Aren't we going to bed, uncle?" said Rodd eagerly. "Bed? Nonsense!Because we are in a country place where people like going to bed almostin the middle of the day and getting up in the middle of the night, doyou think we need follow their example? Absurd! I want to talk to youabout some of the wonderful things I captured to-day. The waters on themoor swarm with the most beautiful limpid specimens. "

Rodd sighed softly, and put his hand before his mouth to stop a yawn. 

"Oh, by the way, " said Uncle Paul, "did you change your trousers whenyou went up to wash?"

"No, uncle; they didn't want it. "

"Weren't they damp?"

"No, uncle; I only got my shoes wet, and they were pretty well dry whenI got home. Besides, you had got my other trousers in the bigportmanteau in your room. "

"Well, you could have come and fetched them. Always be careful tochange damp things. --Come in!"

There had been a soft tap at the door, and Mrs Champernowne appeared. 

"I beg pardon, sir, but what would you like for breakfast in themorning?"

"Breakfast, Mrs Champernowne? Nothing. "

"Oh, I say, uncle!" said Rodd sharply. "We seem to have eaten enoughthis evening to last us for twenty-four hours. "

"Oh no, sir, " said the landlady. "Excuse me, but our moorland air willmake you think very differently to-morrow morning. "

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul. 

"You see, sir, I did think that you'd bring home enough trout thisevening to do for your breakfast too, and I am afraid there's nothingbut ham and eggs. Would you mind them?"

"I'll tell you to-morrow morning, madam, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Then if you wouldn't mind, sir--I don't want to hurry you and the younggentleman--but it's my time, and if you will excuse me I'll saygood-night. "

"Good-night, Mrs Champernowne; good-night, and pleasant rest to you, "said Uncle Paul heartily, "and--Yes? You were going to say something?"

"If you wouldn't mind, sir, being sure that the candles are well out. "

"Oh, of course; of course. "

"And it's a very hot night, sir. "

"Yes, madam; we have found that out. "

"So if you'll be kind enough to shut and slip the bolt of the front doorI'll leave it for you to do so when you go up to bed. "

"Certainly, Mrs Champernowne, certainly. Once more, good-night. "

Their landlady smiled benevolently on both, and the next minute theyheard the little old staircase creaking beneath her tread, this beingfollowed by the cracking of the boards in the little room over thekitchen, the visitors both listening till all was silent again. 

Somehow as Rodd sat opposite to his uncle, his head seemed to beunusually heavy, and he rested more and more upon his two thumbs, whichhe had placed for support beneath his chin. 

There was a faint pinging sound, the trumpeting of a gnat flitting aboutthe room, and then the deep boom of a beetle somewhere outside the openwindow. There was a hot delicious odour, too, floating in over theflowers in the garden, a portion of whose scent the warm air seemed tobe taking up to mingle with that which it had swept off the moor. 

And then as Rodd listened and gazed across the table between the twocandles, whose tops were growing tiny brown mushrooms as they silentlyasked to be snuffed, it seemed to the boy that his uncle's face lookeddim and misty, and then that it swelled and swelled and began to floatup like a faintly seen balloon, till it died right away. And all wasstill but the _um-um-um_ of the great beetle or chafer which had passedin through the window, and began circling round just below thewhitewashed ceiling, against which its wings brushed from time to timewith a faint fizz, till all at once Rodd started up, for his uncleexclaimed--

"Why, Pickle, what are you about?"

"I--I--nothing, uncle, " said the boy hastily. "Why, I believe, sir, youwere going to sleep!"

"Oh, I am quite wide awake, uncle, " cried the boy. 

"Humph, yes--now. You see, my boy, these hydras are most extraordinarythings, and to-morrow morning in the bright sunshine we will get themicroscope to work, and I'll show you how they--"

_Burr_--_burr_--_burr_--_hum_--_hum_--_hum_--_um_--_um_. 

Was that Uncle Paul talking in a low tone with his voice getting fartherand farther away, or was it that big chafer spinning round and round theroom? Now it nearly died out, and then it grew louder again and seemedto double into a duet, just as if the great stag beetle had whisked inat the casement and had joined in the nocturnal valse, the duet seemingto be intended to lull the naturalist and his nephew to sleep in thesoft musky sweetness of that delightful summer's night. 

How long it lasted, who could say, but all at once there was a suddenstart, and Uncle Paul's hand came down with a thump upon the tableclothafter he had knocked over one of the candlesticks, making so much noisethat, wide awake now, Rodd made a dash and stood the candlestick upagain, before snatching the candle from where it lay singeing thelavender and red-check cotton table-cover and beginning to deposit a bigspot of grease. 

"Bless my heart, Pickle!" cried Uncle Paul. "I believe I was going todrop asleep. "

"I am afraid I was asleep, uncle, " replied the boy. "You were sayingthat hydras--that hydras--er--er--er--something about hydras. "

"Yes, yes, yes, but never mind. Perhaps we had better go to bed, andI'll finish what I was saying in the morning. There, light the two flatcandlesticks, and we will have a good long snooze. That's right; putout the others. No, no; use the extinguisher! Don't blow them out, orthere will be such a smell. "

Then--

"Shall I shut the window, uncle?"

"Oh, no, I don't think you need. The place is like an oven. Heigho--ha--hum! Yes, I am sleepy. Come along. Good-night, my boy. I amgoing to sleep with my chamber window wide open, and you'd better do thesame. "

"But I say, uncle, we shall hardly want our candles. Look at the moon. It is almost as light as day. "

All the same they took the candles up with them, the stairs creakingagain beneath their tread as if uttering a protest against them fortheir forgetfulness in not attending to their hostess's request to closeand bolt the door; but they were too sleepy to do anything more thanslip off their things on reaching their rooms, while almost directlyafter, the moon was shining in right across Rodd's snowy white bed, thepillow being in the darkness, which also formed a black bar across thefoot, so that only the boy's hands and breast lay in the light. 

One moment after laying his head down in that black velvety darknessRodd Harding was wide awake and thinking that all outside the window wassilver, a broad streak of which came straight over him to die away inthe wall on his left; the next, he was far away in the land of dreams, wandering over the moor, his confused visions taking the form ofescaping prisoners flying before soldiers in scarlet coats. 

And then after a blank pause which seemed to have lasted only a fewminutes, Rodd opened his eyes upon the bright silvery light once more, to find that it struck across from the window in the opposite direction, for he was wide awake, listening to a soft tap, tap, tap, evidentlyadministered by a knuckle upon his door. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

THE MILK IN THE COCOA-NUT. 

"Yes, all right, Mrs Champernowne; get up directly. I say, what'so'clock?"

"Oh, I don't know, my dear, " came in agitated tones, "but would you cometo the door and speak to me a minute?"

There was a bump on the floor as Rodd sprang out of bed, and then--

"What is it?" whispered the boy, who was moved by his caller's evidentdistress. "Don't say uncle's ill!"

"No, no, my dear, but I am in great trouble. You--you didn't shut thefront door. "

"Oh!" ejaculated Rodd. 

"And--and, my dear, there have been thieves and robbers in the night. They have stripped my little larder, and I don't know what they haven'ttaken besides. Do, pray, make haste and dress, and come down and helpme! I am in such trouble, I don't know what I shall do. "

"All right; I'll make haste and come down, " cried Rodd, feeling guiltyall over, and then trying to excuse himself by shuffling the blame on tothe right shoulders. "It was uncle she asked, " he muttered, as he ranround to the other side of the bed for the chair upon which he had hanghis clothes when he undressed. "Why, hallo!"

He stood staring at the chair for a moment or two, and then ran roundthe foot of the bed, opened the door two or three inches, and called ina subdued tone so as not to awaken his uncle, though if he had beenasked why, he could not have told, beyond saying that he felt then thatit was the right thing to do--

"Mrs Champernowne! Mrs Champernowne!"

"Yes, my dear, " came from the foot of the stairs. "Oh, you have beenquick!"

"No, no, I haven't, " cried Rodd pettishly. "Here, I say, have you takenaway my trousers?"

"Gracious me, no, my dear! What should I want with your trousers?"

"Take them down to brush perhaps, " muttered the boy to himself, as heran back to the other side of the bed and raised the counterpane. "Haven't slipped off and gone under, " he muttered, and then as a freshthought struck him he clapped his hands to his forehead and stoodstaring before him. "The thieves!" he exclaimed. "They haven't been inhere and taken all my clothes?"

He was silent for a few minutes, as he stared vacantly about the room. 

"They have, though!" he cried. "Here, Mrs Champernowne!--Boots andall. Oh, I can't tell her. Here, I must get my other suit out of theportmanteau. I won't wake uncle, because it's so early. Why, it can beonly just sunrise; and he'd sit up and laugh at me. Oh, bother!"

Rodd ran round to the door again, opened it about an inch, and listened. 

"She's in the kitchen, " he muttered to himself, and slipping out on tothe little landing he raised the latch of his uncle's door, glided in, and made for the big portmanteau that lay unstrapped beneath the window. 

Raising the one half quickly, he twisted the whole round so that the twohalves might lie open upon the whitely-scrubbed boards as silently as hecould; but one corner caught against the leg of the dressing-table, jarring it so violently that a hair-brush fell on to the floor with abang, and Uncle Paul sprang up in bed. 

"Hullo, you sir! What are you doing there?" he cried. 

"Getting out my other suit, uncle, " said the boy quickly. 

"What for? Don't do that! We are going over the moor again to-day. "

"But I must, uncle, " cried Rodd. 

"Mush!"

"Yes. Oh, I shall be obliged to tell you. It was all your fault, uncle; you didn't fasten the door as Mrs Champernowne told you, andthere have been thieves in the night. "

"Been grandmothers in the night!" cried Uncle Paul contemptuously. 

"It's true, uncle, and they came up into my room while I was asleep andtook away all my clothes--boots and all. "

"You don't mean that, Pickle! Here, I say, where are mine?"

Rodd sprang to his feet from where he was kneeling by the portmanteau, and ran round to the side of the bed, just as his uncle turned and facedhim. 

"Every blessed thing gone, boy. Why, Rodney, my lad, we have falleninto a den of thieves--robbed, and we may thank our stars we haven'tbeen murdered!"

"Why, it's horrid, uncle! Didn't you hear them, then?"

"Hear them, no! I heard nothing till you knocked something off on tothe floor. Here, stop a moment, boy! My purse! It was in my trouserspocket. "

"Then it's gone, uncle, " cried Rodd. 

"Ah! Horror! My gold watch and seals!"

"Well, they weren't in your trousers, uncle. "

"No, boy; I remember winding it up and laying it on the chimney-piece. "

"It isn't there, uncle. "

"My gold presentation watch, that I wouldn't have lost for five hundredpounds! Call up that wretched woman. "

"Uncle, I can't!"

"Do as I tell you, sir! She's in league with the thieves. "

"But, uncle!"

"Oh yes, I forgot. There, don't stand staring there like a bull calfthat has lost its mother. Turn that portmanteau upside down. Put onsome things yourself, and throw me some more. You can dress quickerthan I can, for you haven't got to shave. Look sharp, and then run forthe village constable. "

"Why, there isn't one, uncle, " grumbled Rodd, as he began to scrambleinto his other clothes. 

"No, of course there isn't, sir. A miserable one-eyed place with onlytwo cottages in it, and I dare say that old woman's in the other, sharing the plunder? What a fool I was to come!"

"No, you weren't, uncle, and Mrs Champernowne isn't sharing theplunder, for she came and woke me up to say that the thieves had beenand carried off everything there was down-stairs. I say, uncle, it wasall your fault. "

"Don't you dare to say that to me again, sir!" roared Uncle Paul. "Itis insolent and disrespectful. Oh, hang the woman's door! Why didn'tshe bolt it herself? Why, I'd got twenty guineas in that purse, besidesa lot of silver. There, there's somebody knocking at the door! Who'sthere?"

"Please, sir, it's me. They've taken the bread and the butter, and apiece of freshly-boiled ham that I meant for you to have cold. "

"And pray who's _they_, madam?" shouted Uncle Paul, who was indifficulties with buttons. 

"Well, sir, I was thinking it must be the smugglers. They've been hereseveral times before, when they have been crossing the moor with cargo;but it couldn't be them, for they always leave a little box of tea or abit of silk, to pay for what they take. It must have been thieves, sir--thieves. "

"Yes, madam; and they have taken my purse and gold watch too, besidestwo suits of clothes. There, go on down. We'll join you soon. I wantto think what's to be done. "

The stairs creaked as Mrs Champernowne descended, and just thensomething caught Rodd's eye--something bright and shiny, against theleaves of a big old gazetteer lying upon the side-table. 

Rodd uttered an ejaculation. 

"Oh!" he exclaimed. 

"Something more gone?" cried the Doctor. 

"No, uncle; there's your watch. And here's your gold pencil-case too, "continued the boy, as he raised the corner of the book. "Why, they havebeen turning the watch-ribbon into a marker, and somebody has beenwriting here on the fly-leaf. "

"Thank goodness!" grunted Uncle Paul. "That's something saved out ofthe fire. Never mind the writing. But they have taken our clothes. "

"It's in French, I think, uncle, but I can't quite make it out. "

"French!" cried Uncle Paul fiercely. "Why, of course! How stupid! Imight have known. We have been attacked in the night by a gang of oldNapoleon's scum. That man's bound to be the curse of my life. Don'tstand staring there, boy. Can't you see?"

"No, uncle, " said the boy sturdily. "What nonsense! Napoleon couldn'thave invaded England in the night to come and steal our clothes. "

"Bah! Idiot! Can't you see it's some of those scoundrelly Frenchprisoners who escaped yesterday? That vagabond of a boy perhaps thatyou pampered off and were feeding with our good English provisions. Nowyou see the consequences. The ungrateful rapparee--Oh no, but that'sIrish, and he'd be French. "

"Yes, uncle, " said the boy thoughtfully, for his uncle's fulminationsfell blankly upon his ears as he stood trying to puzzle out some of thepencilled words upon the fly-leaf of the book. 

"Here's _pardon_, uncle, and something else I can't make out, and_changer_. Why, that means exchange! Yes, and lower down here's _sous_something, only it's written over `John Champernowne' and `his book';but that's in ink. What does _oreiller_ mean, uncle?"

"Bolster, " said Uncle Paul. "No: pillow, " and he turned involuntarilytowards the bed, where, unperceived before, a scrap of something redpeered from beneath the clean white pillow-case. "Under the pillow, "said Uncle Paul, and stepping to the side of the bed he snatched up thesoft down cushion deeply marked by the pressure of his head. 

Catching up what lay beneath, he uttered a loud ejaculation and tappedit sharply against the bed-post. 

"What have you got there, uncle?"

"Pickle, my boy, it's my twenty guineas that we thought they'd stolen. What in the name of forceps and lancets did they tie them up in this oldsilk rag for? It's a bit of a pocket-handkerchief. "

"Why, uncle, " cried Rodd, laughing, "it isn't going to be so bad, afterall. Somebody's been having a game with us. "

"Game, eh? Queer sort of a game, Pickle, " cried Uncle Paul; and withvery little effort he tore open the silk envelope and poured out alittle heap of bright gold coins upon the bed. "Napoleons, by allthat's wonderful!" he cried. "Exchange! I begin to see now, boy. He'staken my good gold money, whoever he is, and left this French trash. Here, give me that book. Mind--don't drop my watch. "

"I have got it safe, uncle, " replied the boy, handing the big book tohis uncle. 

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul. "Not quite such a scoundrel as he mighthave been, whoever it is that wrote it. Exchange, eh? But there's beenno exchange about our clothes. Humph! All in French, of course. If hehad been a gentleman, and he couldn't understand plain English, he wouldhave written it in Latin. Bah! How I do hate that pernicketty French!Let's see--let's see. Oh yes, here it all is. Ask pardon for two poorprisoners trying to escape--um, um, um--years of misery. GenerousEnglishman--some day--_remerciments_. Ah, it's all scribbled horribly--in the dark, I suppose. Oh, he's signed it, though, Pickle. `Des Saix, Comte. ' Oh, there are two of them, then. The other's signed his nametoo--quite a different hand. `Morny des Saix, Vicomte. ' H'm! Well, Isuppose they are gentlemen. "

"Noblemen, uncle. "

"Bah! Noblemen wouldn't do a thing like that!"

"What are those other words, uncle, under the last name?"

"Um--um--um! `May God bless you for what you did to-day. Your friendtill death. ' Why, Pickle, you ought to have been able to read thatyourself. "

"I did, uncle, but I wanted to be sure that I was right. Why, that musthave been the boy I helped to escape. "

"Yes, and he dodged us home, and as good as robbed us. "

"Oh, uncle! Shame!"

"How dare you, sir! What do you mean by it, Rodney? Do you forget whoI am, sir?"

"No. "

"And pray who am I then, sir?"

"Dear old Uncle Paul, who has got out of bed the wrong way thismorning!"

"H'm--ha! Well, I suppose you are right, Pickle. I did feel in anawful temper; but I don't feel quite so bad now that I have found mywatch. "

"And pencil-case, uncle. "

"Ah, yes, my boy. That was the gift of a very grateful old patient. "

"And then there are all those gold napoleons, uncle. "

"Bah! Trash! Base counters, good for nothing, like the ugly headthat's upon them, " cried Uncle Paul irascibly. 

"But I say, uncle; it might have been worse. "

"But the clothes, my boy! The scoundrels! They'll go masqueradingabout in our things, and escaping, I'll be bound. But stop a minute. What did he say about exchange?"

"Oh, that meant about the money. "

"Hullo! There's that wicked old woman again!--Well, Mrs Champernowne, what is it now?"

"The wood-shed, sir. "

"Well, I don't want the wood-shed. Light the fire yourself. "

"You don't understand me, sir. I went round there to get some kindling, and there's quite a heap of old clothes there that these wicked peoplehave left behind. "

Uncle Paul chuckled, for he was beginning to beam again. 

"I say, Pickle, that accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut. They musthave taken our things down into the old lady's wood-shed, and turned itinto a dressing-room. "

"Yes, " cried Rodd; "and that young Viscount is quite welcome to mine. "

"Most generous, I am sure, sir, " cried Uncle Paul sarcastically, "butwould you be kind enough to tell me who pays the bills for yourclothes?"

"Why, you do, uncle, of course. But I say, uncle, I do hope they'llescape; don't you?"

"Wha-a-at!"

"You do, uncle, only you pretend that you don't. "

"Pretend!"

"Yes. Poor fellows! How horrible! To have to stoop to such a schemeas that to get away! But after all, uncle, it's glorious and brave. What an escape! Oh, how I should like to meet that poor fellow again!"

"What, to give him up to the soldiers?" said Uncle Paul sarcastically. 

"Give him up to the soldiers!" cried the boy indignantly. "Why, I'dsooner put on his old clothes, and tell them a lie!"

"What!" cried Uncle Paul. 

"Well, I'd pretend to be him so as to cheat them, and make them take meinstead. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

WHAT DOES THAT SERGEANT WANT?

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul, as they descended at last, to hear the firecrackling in the kitchen, and the bright old copper kettle singing itsmorning song. 

It was a lovely morning, with the sweet scents of the garden and moorfloating in at the little parlour window, and as Uncle Paul took whathis irreverent nephew called a good long sniff, he slowly andostentatiously, moved thereto by the sight of the clean white cloth andthe breakfast things, hauled up his great gold watch and examined itsface. 

"Twenty-five minutes, thirty-seven seconds, past six, Pickle. Ratherearly for breakfast. Well, I suppose we must take things as they are;but I am very, very sorry that they took away my old coat; it was agreat favourite. And those things of yours, sir, are much too good togo climbing about tors and wading in streams. I wish that Count hadknocked at my door like a gentleman and asked me, as he should. Heshould have had this suit instead. I'd a deal rather he had it than myold shooting jacket. "

"Ha, ha!"

"What are you laughing at, sir?"

"Uncle Paul eating his words. "

"What, sir?"

"You mean, uncle, that if Count de Saix had come and knocked at the doorand asked you to help him, you'd have called me up and sent me to theprison for the soldiers. "

"Now look here, Rodney, that's impudence, sir, and--Ah! There's themicroscope, and the slides and the glasses. Have they been disturbed?"

"No, uncle. Just as we left them. I almost wonder they didn't carryoff all those hydras. "

"_Hydrae_. Be careful about your Latin plurals. But look here, do youwant me to box your ears?"

"No, uncle. "

"Then don't give me any more of your impertinent allusions. Hum--hum--hum! Half-past six. Very early for breakfast. But I begin to feel alittle _appetitlich_, as the Germans call it; don't you?"

"Oh no, uncle, " said Rodd, very mildly. "You said last night that wehad eaten enough to last twenty-four hours. "

"Now, look here, Rodney, you had the impudence to tell me a short timeago that I'd got out of bed the wrong way. I am afraid it's you, sir, that have done that, and if you don't take care we shall be having avery serious quarrel. --There! Run, quick! That kettle's boiling over. "

But Rodd was half-way to the kitchen, and had snatched the kettle offbefore his uncle had finished speaking, warned of what was happening ashe had been by the first angry hiss. 

"It's all right, uncle, " he cried. "No harm done!"

"But what's become of that old woman? She ought to be here now, seeingabout our breakfast. "

"Here she comes, uncle, " and through the window they could see theirhostess hurrying back with a big basket from the direction of theneighbour's cottage, and the next minute they heard her setting her loadupon her white kitchen-table. 

"Oh, I didn't know you were down, gentlemen, " she cried, as she hurriedinto the parlour. "I have been over to my neighbour's to see if shecould help me now that I am in such a fix. "

"Well, could she?" said Uncle Paul. 

"Oh yes, sir. As luck had it, she was baking yesterday, and she hadplenty of butter and eggs, besides a small ham which had just beensmoked. "

"Oh, come, " said Uncle Paul, "we shall be able to keep you alive for afew days longer, Pickle; and I suppose you will soon be able to let ushave breakfast, Mrs Champernowne?"

"Oh yes, sir, very quickly. I shall only want time to fry the ham. "

Uncle Paul gave an involuntary sniff, as if the aroma of the fragrantbrown had floated to his nostrils. 

"But you can't tell, sir, how sorry I am that such a thing should havehappened to gentlemen staying in my house;" and the poor woman lookedappealingly to uncle and nephew, and back. 

"Don't you say another word about it, madam, " replied Uncle Paul. "Youmake us a nice clear cup of coffee to take away the taste of the night'sadventures. "

"I will indeed, sir, and I won't say another word, only thank you fortaking it so patiently and, if I might make the observation, in such alamb-like way. "

Rodd turned round very quickly, walked to the window, and began towhistle softly. 

"I went over this morning to my neighbour's, sir, as you may see by thebasket. "

"Yes, madam, " said Uncle Paul, who was staring hard at his nephew's backand scratching one ear vigorously. 

"I told her all about it, of course, sir, and her master was therehaving his breakfast before he went out peat-cutting, and if you'llbelieve me, sir, he did nothing but laugh, and said he knew it was theprisoners, sure enough, and he had the impudence to say that it was agreat blessing that they came to my cottage instead of to his, and luckyfor the prisoners too, for they'd got a better fit. "

"Ah, yes, Mrs Champernowne, " said Uncle Paul, pulling out his watch andfrowning very hard in its face; "but do you think your neighbour's hamwill be as good as yours?"

"Oh yes, sir--better, I expect, for it was a lovely little pig when itwas fatted up and killed last Christmas; one of those little fat, short-legged, dunkey ones with turn-up snouts. My husband used to saythey were the Chinese breed, and that was why the ham and bacon alwayswent so well with China tea. You may depend upon that ham, sir, beingbeautiful. "

"Very singular fact, Mrs Champernowne, " said Uncle Paul blandly. "Thenperhaps you wouldn't mind cutting the rashers a little thicker. I amrather ashamed of my nephew's appetite; but then you see he's only ahungry, growing boy. "

Uncle Paul took out his watch again, and this time their landlady tookthe hint, and hurried into the kitchen, from which delicious odours soonbegan to escape, and in the midst of the examination upon thewindow-sill, where the bright sun lit up the lenses of the microscope, the magnified hydrae, with their buds and wondrous developments, wereset aside, to be superseded by the morning meal. 

"Ah, yes, " said Uncle Paul, thoroughly mollified now by MrsChampernowne's preparations, "there are worse disasters at sea, Pickle, and I'd worn that old coat off and on for a good many years. "

"You couldn't have worn it off and on, uncle, " said Rodd dryly. 

"Look here, sir; if your mother, my dear sister, had had the slightestidea that you would have grown up into such an impertinent, two-edged-tongued young scrub, I don't believe she'd have died and leftyou in my charge. I suppose you meant that to be very witty, sir. Please understand that I was only speaking figuratively. Now we willjust spend about an hour over those specimens, and then, as it is sobeautiful and fine, we will be off on to the moor again. You will takeyour fishing-rod, of course?"

"Oh yes, uncle. "

"Then turn up the bottoms of those trousers before we start. "

"No, uncle; I shall put my leggings on over these, " said Rodd coolly, "and I should advise you to do the same. " Both Uncle Paul's ears seemedto twitch, and he scratched one as if it itched; but he said nothing, for just then Mrs Champernowne tapped at the door, to enter smiling, with a packet of letters. 

"Postman, sir, " she said, placing the letters upon the table. "Youwon't mind me speaking another word, sir?" she said. 

"Oh no, Mrs Champernowne, " said her visitor, rather gruffly. "What isit?"

"I think you told me, sir, that the prisoners did not take any of yourvaluables, your money, or anything of that sort?"

"No, Mrs Champernowne, " cried Rodd eagerly. "They took uncle's money, but they left a lot of French napoleons instead. "

Uncle Paul made a snatch at a very big blue letter, and darted a furiouslook at his nephew. 

"I am very, _very, very_ glad, sir, " cried Mrs Champernowne, "and, poorthings, they are to be pitied, after all. "

She backed smilingly out of the room, and Uncle Paul held the big blueletter, which was doubly sealed with red wax, edgewise at his nephew, asif he were going to make a sword-cut at him. 

"Now, look here, Rodney, " he said; "it has been dawning upon me for along time past that I have indulged and spoiled you, with the resultthat you are growing into a most impertinent young rascal. Have thegoodness for the future, sir, to allow me to speak for myself. When Irequire your conversational assistance, I will ask you for it. "

"Yes, uncle, and--"

"Well, sir, what?"

"Aren't you going to open that big letter, uncle? I want to know what'sthe news. "

"What is it to you, sir?" cried Uncle Paul, who had been opening a verykeen-looking, peculiarly-shaped, ivory-handled knife. "Have thegoodness to let my business be my business. I have a very great mind toput this letter, "--and as he spoke he carefully cut round theseals--"and the other missives away in my writing-case until I amalone--" Here Uncle Paul unfolded a letter upon the top of which wasstamped the Royal Arms, and smoothed it out upon the tablecloth--"andread it in peace, without being pestered by an impertinent boy. Blessmy heart! Why, Pickle, my boy! Hark here! It's a letter from theGovernment. Jump up and shout, you young dog! Hang Bony and all hisworks! It's all right at last. "

"Why, what is it?" cried the boy excitedly, as his uncle went on eagerlyreading the bold round hand that formed the formal contents. 

"Hark here! `His Majesty's advisers see their way to recommend that thelong-deferred grant for the sea-going natural history expedition to theWest Coast of Africa to be carried out by Dr Robson at his earliestconvenience be made, and that the grant to the full amount will be paidin to Dr Robson's bank as soon as formal application has beenreceived. ' There, sir, what do you think of that? At last! At last!Pickle, my boy, they say that everything comes at last to the man whowaits, and here it is. "

"Oh, Uncle Paul!" cried the boy, with sparkling eyes. "I am so glad--soglad!" And as he spoke he dashed at the reader, to catch him tightly bythe two sides of the collar of his coat. 

"Mind my clean cravat, Pickle. "

"Bother your clean cravat, uncle!" shouted the boy. "Look here, sir;you always promised me that if ever that money came and you went on thatexpedition, you'd play fair. "

"What do you mean, sir, by your playing fair?"

"You said, uncle, " cried the boy, sawing the collar he held to and fro, "that I should be very useful to you, and could help you no end over thenetting and dredging and bottling specimens, and that you'd take me withyou. "

"Ah, " cried Uncle Paul, "that was when you were a nice, good, obedientboy, and hadn't learnt to say sharp impertinent things, and didn't goabout setting free escaped prisoners and getting your uncle robbed. "

"Gammon, uncle! I see through you, and--I say, what does that sergeantwant?" For there was the tramp of heavy feet, and the non-commissionedofficer who had been at the head of the squad of men they had met, marched past the cottage window. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

HE SAYS. 

"Eh? What?" exclaimed Uncle Paul excitedly. 

"You don't mean that he is coming here?"

"He is, uncle, " replied the boy nervously, and his colour began to goand come. 

"Tut, tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Uncle Paul. "This looks serious, myboy. Well, I don't know. Perhaps he's only heard of the visit that hasbeen paid here. "

"I beg pardon, sir; here is Mr Windell, one of the sergeants of theprison guard. Could he see you for a few minutes?"

"Well, I'm rather--Yes, yes, show him in, Mrs Champernowne. Rodney, myboy, you sit still and hold your tongue. I don't know what this manwants; but you leave it to me. "

Rodd nodded his head, and fancied that he felt relieved, but he did not, for his heart was beating faster than usual, and he was suffering from astrange kind of emotion. 

"Good-morning, gentlemen, " said the sergeant, saluting stiffly as he wasshown in. 

"Good-morning, " said Uncle Paul stiffly. "Do you wish to see me?"

"Yes, sir; only about a little matter upon the moor yesterday. After weleft you I did not feel satisfied about those prisoners. "

"Indeed?" said Uncle Paul coldly. 

"No, sir. The governor yonder likes to have things thoroughly done, soabout three hours afterwards I went over the ground again. "

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul, without taking his eyes from the sergeant'sface. 

"And there I found out something else. "

Uncle Paul was silent, and Rodd's heart went on now in a steady_thump_--_thump_--_thump_--_thump_. 

"Thought I'd come on, sir, " said the sergeant, turning back to the door, going outside, and returning with Rodd's creel, which he slowly openedand took from within, neatly folded up, the canvas wallet. "Belong toyou gentlemen, don't they?"

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul slowly; "those are ours. Well?"

Rodd's heart now seemed to stand quite still till the sergeant repliedto his uncle's query. 

"That's all, sir; that's all, " said the sergeant, and Rodd's heart wenton again. "You had left them behind, and I thought I'd bring them on. "

"Thank you, " said Uncle Paul quietly. "Very good of you, and I am muchobliged. "

"Don't name it, sir. Going to have another fine day, and hope the younggentleman here will have plenty more sport. There's a lot of trout upthere, only they are terrible small. Good-morning, gentlemen. "

"Good-morning, sergeant, " said Uncle Paul quietly, and Rodd's mouthopened a little and then shut, but no sound came. "Wait a moment, sergeant, " continued Uncle Paul, thrusting his hand into his pocket andfeeling about amongst some five-and-twenty or thirty coins, all of whichfelt too small, for he wanted a larger one; but feeling that, he tookhold of three together, when something made him stop short with his handhalf out of his pocket, and he thrust it back again. "Dear me, " hesaid, quickly now, "I really have no change. "

"Oh, there's no need for that, sir, " said the sergeant. 

"Yes, yes, " said Uncle Paul. "Rodd, my boy, have you half-a-crown inyour pocket?"

"I think so, uncle, " said the boy quickly; and then his face lookedblank. "No, uncle; I haven't anything at all, " he cried in dismay. 

"Oh, pray don't mind, sir, " said the sergeant, moving to the door. "Good-morning, sir; good-morning. I don't want paying for a littlething like that. "

"Stop, please, " said Uncle Paul hurriedly. "Rodd, my boy, go and askMrs Champernowne if she'll be kind enough to lend me half-a-crown. "

Rodd hurried out, feeling exceedingly hot, and with a peculiar moisturein the palms of his hands, returning directly afterwards with therequired coin, though the unexpected demand had made their landlady openher eyes rather widely. 

"There, that's right, sergeant, " said Uncle Paul, "and I am sure mynephew is much obliged. He wouldn't have liked to lose that creel. "

"Thank you, sir. Very glad I found it. Good-morning once more. "

The man saluted both, giving Rodd a very peculiar look which seemed togo through him, and then turning upon his heels, he marched out of theroom and shut the door, while Uncle Paul sank back in his chair, tookout a clean red and yellow silk handkerchief, and wiped his forehead. 

"Rodney, my boy, " he said, "I felt as if we had been doing somethingunderhanded, and nearly brought out three of those napoleons to pay thatman. "

"Oh, uncle, " said the boy huskily; "it would have been like telling himthat the poor fellows had been here. "

"Yes, my boy, and that you had been helping them to escape. "

"Oh!" ejaculated Rodd, and he darted to the window. "No, " he gasped, with a sigh of relief. "He's gone. "

"Well, we knew he'd gone, boy. "

"Yes, uncle, but I was afraid that he'd stop talking to MrsChampernowne, and she would tell him about their coming here. But hedidn't stop, and he has gone right away. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Uncle Paul. "Well, you see how near we have been togetting into trouble with the authorities; for of course they are verystrict over such things as these. There, now I must write an importantletter to send off in acknowledgment of that despatch; so you be off nowfor about half-an-hour, and go and play like a good boy. "

"Yes, uncle, " said Rodd, rather grumpily; and he went slowly out, withthe intention of getting somewhere on to the high ground where he couldwatch the sergeant's red coat till he was out of sight. "I wish UnclePaul wouldn't talk to me like that, " he muttered, as he went out of thegarden gate. "Go out and play like a good boy! It does make me feel sowild! He'll be saying good little boy next, and I am past sixteen; andhe wasn't doing it to tease me either, for he was quite serious, whatwith the prisoners, and the sergeant coming like that. Bother him! Helooked at me as he went away just as if he suspected that I'd left thesandwiches and the fish where that poor fellow could get them. Here, Imustn't let him see that I am following him. I'll go round by thatother track and get up behind those stones. Then I can see the wholeway to the prison. Oh, he didn't know anything, or else he'd havespoken out. But that's the worst of doing what you oughtn't to. Youalways feel as if everybody suspects you. Well, I didn't want to do anyharm, and Uncle Paul didn't think it was very wrong, in spite of hisgrumbling about the French. If he had he wouldn't have called mePickle. It would have been Rodney, and his voice would have soundedvery severe, for he can be when he likes. Spoiled and indulged me!That he hasn't!"

The ascent was so steep by the track he had chosen that the boy was soonhigh above the cottages, hurrying along by a ridge of stones which ledup to what looked like a young tor, so situated that it sheltered thetwo cottage gardens, and the enclosed field or two where the neighbour'scow was pastured, from the north and east wind, and also acted as a lewfor Mrs Champernowne's bees, which could reach their straw hive homescomfortably without being blown out by the wanton breezes whichtravelled across the moors. 

Rodd was pretty well out of breath when he reached the little tor, andso he drew in a fresh supply as he dropped upon his knees and crawledround the last stone to his proposed look-out, feeling certain he wouldbe able to see the sergeant's bright scarlet coat with its white belts, as he marched straight away for the prison. 

He did see him, but not so far off as he had anticipated, and the sighttook his breath completely away again, for as he crept round he becameconscious of a peculiar scent that was not wild thyme but tobacco, andbefore he realised what it was, he came plump face to face with theirlate visitor, who was seated upon the soft close turf with his backagainst a stone, basking in the sunshine, and evidently enjoying a rest. 

"Here we are again, then, sir!" he cried, in his sharp military way. "Ithought I'd just sit down here for a bit on the chance that you mightcome up and like to have a word or two to say to me. "

He looked very hard at Rodd as he spoke, and the boy felt his face burn, while the next moment there was a sensation as if the cool wind werefanning his hot cheeks. 

"Come out to speak to me, didn't you, sir?" said the sergeant. 

Rodd was silent for a few moments, for his throat felt dry, while hepassed his tongue over his lips to moisten them. 

"No, " he said, at last, with an effort. "I came up here to see if youhad gone, and watch you back to the prison. "

The sergeant laughed softly, and thrust one finger into the bowl of hispipe, before sending out a fresh cloud of smoke. 

"Ah, " he said, "I am not surprised. Well, here we are. Do you want tosay anything to me?"

Rodd opened and shut his lips again, but no words came till he made aneffort, and then said, with his utterance sounding very dry--

"You want to speak to me?"

"Right, sir. Yes, I do. You remember when I came upon you up yonder bythat pool?"

Rodd nodded and frowned. 

"Well, I suppose you noticed that there was a hole at the bottom ofthose rocks across there, where the little stream came out?"

"Yes, " said Rodd, with his brow puckering up. 

"Well, yesterday evening, as I said to your uncle, I went over theground again to see if I could find any track of those escapedprisoners. "

Rodd nodded shortly. 

"Well, I took off my gaiters and shoes and stockings and waded acrossthe pool, and nearly doubled myself up to get into that hole; and afterI had gone a little way I found that there was quite a dry cave therewith streaks of light coming down from above between the piled-upstones. "

Rodd nodded again. 

"Just in the highest part where the water did not reach, some one hadlit a fire with bits of ling and dry peat. It was still warm--at least, the ashes were, and somebody had been busy cooking trout there, grillingthem, thriddled on a stick of hazel; and very curious it was too, forsomehow or other, the water, instead of running down, had been runningup backwards like, and carried with it that there fishing-basket ofyours, and the wallet, and laid them upon that nice dry sandy placeclose up to the fire along by which there were ever so many heads ofthose little fish, and their backbones. Rum, wasn't it? Do you thinkan otter could have done that?"

"No, " said Rodd, after a few moments' pause; and he spoke sharply andangrily. "No, I don't think that. "

"More don't I, " said the sergeant dryly, and he half closed his eyes andsent a faint little curl of smoke into the air. "Now, young gentleman, what do you think would happen if I was to go yonder to the governor atthe prison, and say that I believed you had helped the King's enemies toescape? You didn't, of course, eh?"

Rodd moistened his lips again, and his frank young face looked very muchpuckered and wrinkled as he pulled himself together and looked almostdefiantly at his questioner, who exclaimed--

"Well, you heard what I said. "

The boy nodded. 

"Well, speak out. You didn't, of course?"

Rodd drew a deep breath, moistened his lips again, and then out thewords came. "Yes, " he said, "I did!"

"Hah!" said the sergeant, as he fixed the boy with his keen grey eyesand spoke to him as if he were one of his recruits. "Well, I like that. Spoken like a man. My old mother used to say, `Speak the truth, Tom, and then you needn't be afraid of any man. ' Look here, youngster, I amonly a soldier, and you are a young gentleman, or else you wouldn't bevisiting and making holiday here; but do you mind shaking hands?"

"Yes, " said Rodd hotly, "I know: I suppose I have done wrong, and youhave got your duty to do; so go and do it. "

"Here, " cried the sergeant, "grip, boy, grip! I like you for all thismore and more. I had my duty to do, and I did it as far as I could; butI was too late. The prisoners had escaped, and we have heard thismorning, the news being brought by a miserable-looking sneak of a fellowwho had come to the governor to ask for the reward for not taking them, that they got down to Salcombe very late last night and boarded one ofthe orange boats in the little harbour, where I expect they had friendswaiting for them, for the schooner sailed at once, and I dare say theyare within sight of a French port before now. Yes, I had my duty to do, me and my lads, but the prisoners escaped, same as I would if I had beenin a French prison, shut up for doing nothing, and because our twocountries were at war. There, I am not going to blame you now it's allover, as you own to it like a man. They both came to you, I suppose, for a bit of help, and you gave it to them. But when I was on duty Ishould have nailed you if I had caught you in the act. There, that'lldo. Thought I should like to tell you about it, and hold you like atthe point of the bayonet, and see what you'd say. I know it's precioushard to tell the truth sometimes, and it must have been very hard here. But you did it like a man. But I say: you never thought that basket andwallet would tell tales when you left those poor beggars a mouthful toeat; and I hope if there's any more war to come and I'm took, and make agood try to slip away--I hope, I say, that I shall come upon some braveyoung French lad who will do as good a turn to me as you did to thosepoor fellows, who were making a run for freedom, and to get out of thereach of our bayonets and guns. "

Rodd thrust his hand into his pocket, and flushed up now more than ever, for the sergeant caught him by the wrist. 

"No, no, my lad, " he cried; "none of that! I didn't come here to getmoney out of you. I was a boy once myself. Only a common one, butpretty straightforward and honest, or else I don't suppose I should havewon these three gold chevrons which I have got here upon my arm. Well, I wouldn't have taken pay then for doing a dirty action, fond as I wasof coppers with the King's head on; and I wouldn't do it now. So don'tyou make me set up my hackles by trying to offer me anything for this. Besides, I've got a whole half-crown your uncle gave me, and I am noteven going to ask you whether he had a finger in this pie. "

"No, he hadn't--he hadn't indeed, " cried Rodd warmly. "On my honour, sergeant, I did it all. "

"All right, my lad, I'll take your word; but just you take my advice. The law's law, and they're pretty sharp about here, so if you hear thegun fire and the soldiers are out after any poor fellows who haveescaped, don't you get meddling with 'em again. Time I was off back. "And without another word the sergeant sprang up and strode away, leavingRodd watching him for a time and admiring the man's upright carriage andbold elastic step, till happening to cast his eyes in another direction, he found himself looking down upon Mrs Champernowne's cottage, and, with letter in hand and straw hat on head, Uncle Paul, looking in alldirections as if in search of his missing boy. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

THE SALCOMBE BOATS. 

"I am very, very sorry, sir, " said Mrs Champernowne. "Of course I amonly a poor widow, and I let my apartments to gentlemen who come downfishing or to take walks for their health over the moor. But your staydown here has been something more than that. It has been a realpleasure to me ever since you and the young gentleman have been here. And not only am I very sorry that you are going away, but it has quiteupset me to hear that you are going sailing away over the stormy seas, searching for all kinds of strange things in foreign abroad. "

"Oh, come, come, Mrs Champernowne, " cried Uncle Paul, as he saw thepoor woman lift up her apron and put one corner to her eye. "Thereoughtn't to be anything in a naturalist's expedition to upset you. "

"Ah, you don't know, sir, " said Mrs Champernowne, speaking to UnclePaul, but shaking her head sadly at Rodd all the while. "I have hadthose who were near and dear to me go sailing away quite happy andjoyful like, just the same as you and Mr Rodney might, and never comeback again, for the sea is a very dangerous place. "

"Oh, perhaps so, and of course there are exceptions, " said Uncle Paul;"but as a rule people do come back safe. "

"I don't know, sir, " said the old lady, shaking her head sadly. "Thesea is very unruly sometimes. Hadn't you better take my advice, sir, and stop here? The moor's very big, and surely if you and the younggentleman look well you'll be able to find plenty of things to fill yourbottles, without going abroad. "

"Can't be done, Mrs Champernowne, " said Uncle Paul smiling. "Dartmoorisn't the West Coast of Africa, nor yet the Cape of Good Hope, so, muchas we have enjoyed being here, we shall have to say good-bye, and livein hopes of coming to see you again some day, for I haven't half workedout the moor, nor yet a hundredth part. "

"I am very, very, very sorry, " said the old lady again, "but no doubt, sir, you know best. When do you think of going, sir?"

"To-morrow morning, Mrs Champernowne. We can't let the grass growunder our feet, can we, Rodd?"

"No, uncle, " was the reply; and the next morning the portmanteau waspacked, the fishing-rod and naturalist's nets tied up in a neat bundle, a light spring cart was drawn up at the door, and uncle and nephew weresoon on their way to the cross roads to take their chance of findingroom upon the Plymouth coach, which came within a few miles of thewidow's cottage. 

They were fortunate, as it happened, and that evening they were safelyback at Uncle Paul's home, a pleasant little country house on the highgrounds overlooking the glorious harbour dotted with vessels, whichincluded several of the King's men-of-war, and within easy reach of thedocks. 

"Ah, " cried Uncle Paul that evening, as he strolled out into his garden, in company with Rodd, who was carrying a telescope that looked like asmall cannon; "that was a fine air up on the moor, my boy, but nothinglike this. Take a good long deep breath. Can't you smell the salt andthe seaweed? Doesn't it set you longing to be off?"

"Well--yes, uncle, " replied the boy, smiling and screwing up his facetill it was all wrinkled about the eyes; "but I begin to be a bitafraid. "

"Afraid, sir? What of?"

"That I shan't turn out such a good sailor as I should like to be. "

"Why, what do you mean? Now, look here, Rodd; don't you tell me thatyou want to back out of going upon this trip. "

"Oh no, uncle, " cried the boy eagerly. "I want to go, of course!"

"But what are you afraid of?"

"Well, you see, uncle, coasting about with you in a fisherman's luggerfor a few days, and always keeping within sight of land, is one thing;going right away across the ocean is quite another. "

"Well, sir, who said it wasn't?" cried Uncle Paul. "What then?"

"Suppose I turn ill, uncle?"

"Well, sir, suppose you do. Am I not doctor enough to put you rightagain?"

"Oh, I don't mean really ill, uncle. I mean sea-sick; and it would seemso stupid. "

"Horribly; yes. You'd better be! Pooh! Rubbish! Nonsense! You talklike a great Molly. Now, no nonsense, Rodney. Speak out frankly andcandidly. You mean that now it has come to the point you think it tooserious, and you want to shirk?"

"I don't, uncle; I don't, indeed, and I do wish you wouldn't call meRodney!" cried the boy earnestly. 

"I shall, sir, _as long as I live, if you play me false now_. "

"Oh, uncle, what a shame!" cried the boy passionately. "Play you false!Who wants to play you false? I only wanted to tell you frankly that Ifelt a bit afraid of not being quite equal to the sea. I want to go, and I mean to go, and you oughtn't to jump upon me like this, and callme Rodney. "

The boy stood before the doctor, flushed and excited, as he continued--

"You talk to me, uncle, as if you thought that I was a regular cowardand afraid of the sea. "

"Then you shouldn't make me, sir. Who was it said afraid? Why, youhave been out with me for days together, knocking about, in pretty goodrough weather too. "

"Yes, uncle, but that was all within sight of land. "

"What's that got to do with it? It's often much rougher close in shore, especially on a rocky coast, than it is out on the main. "

"I wish I hadn't spoken, " cried Rodd passionately. 

"So do I, sir. "

"I couldn't help thinking I might turn very sick for days, and getlaughed at by the crew and called a swab. "

"Oh, " said Uncle Paul, laughing, "you talked as if you were afraid ofthe sea, and all the time, you conceited young puppy, you mean that youare afraid of the men. "

"Well, yes, uncle, I suppose that that really is it. "

"Humph! Then why didn't you say so, and not talk as if you, the firstof my crew that I reckoned upon, were going to mutiny and give it allup?"

"Give it up, uncle?" cried the boy. "Why, you know that I am longing togo. "

"Ah, well, that sounds more like it, Pickle, " said Uncle Paul, lookingsideways at the boy through his half-closed eyes. "Then I suppose it isall a false alarm. "

"Of course it is, uncle, " cried Rodd. 

"Well, we may as well make sure, you know, because once we are startedit won't be long before we are out of sight of land, and there'll be noturning back. "

"Well, I don't want to turn back, uncle. "

"Then you shouldn't have talked as if you thought you might. Are youafraid now?"

"Not a bit, uncle. I am ready to start to-morrow morning. "

"Ah, well, you won't, my boy, for there's everything to do first. "

"Everything to do?"

"Of course. It's not like taking a few bottles and pill-boxes and a netor two to go up on the moor. Why, there's our ship to find first, andthen to get her fitted with our nets and sounding-lines and dredges andall sorts of odds and ends, with reserves and provisions for all that welose. Then there's to collect a crew. "

"Oh, there'll be plenty of fellows down by the Barbican or hanging aboutdown there who will jump at going. "

"Don't you be so precious sanguine, my fine fellow. This will be all sofresh that the men won't be so ready as you expect. The first thing aseaman will ask will be, `Where are we bound? What port?'"

"Well, uncle; tell them. "

"Tell them what I don't know myself unless I say Port Nowhere on theHigh Seas! It will be all a matter of chance, Pickle, where we go andwhat we do, and I may as well say it now, if any one gets asking youwhat we are going to do, your answer is included in just these fewwords--We are going to explore. "

Rodd nodded in a short business-like way. 

"All right, uncle; I'll remember, " he cried promptly. "Then you aregoing to hire a ship and engage a crew?"

"Well, " said Uncle Paul thoughtfully, "we are landsmen--I mean landsmanand a boy--but we may as well begin to be nautical at once and callthings by the sea-going terms. No, my boy, I am not going to engage aship--too big. "

"Why, you won't go all that way in a lugger, uncle?"

"Bah! Rubbish!" cried Uncle Paul shortly. "Here, give me hold of thatglass. "

He took the telescope, drew out the slide to a mark upon the tube whichindicated the focus which suited his eye, and then as he began slowlysweeping the portions of the harbour which were within reach he went ontalking. 

"Isn't there anything between a lugger and a ship, sir? You know wellenough if you talk to a sailor about a ship he'd suppose you meant afull-rigged three-masted vessel. "

"Yes, of course, uncle. And a barque is a three-master with a mizzenfore-and-aft rigged. "

"That's better, my lad. But what do you mean by fore-and-aft rigged?"

"Well, like a schooner, uncle. "

"Good boy! Go up one, as you used to say at school. Well, what do youthink of a large schooner for a good handy vessel that can be wellmanaged by a moderate crew?"

"Oh, I should think it would be splendid, uncle; and she'd sail veryfast. "

"That depends on her build and the way she is sailed, my boy. Butthat's what I am thinking of having, Pickle. "

"But with a good crew, uncle. "

"Yes; I want the best schooner and the best crew that are to be had, myboy. "

"But it will cost a lot of money, uncle. "

"Yes, Pickle; but I am proud to say that the Government has not beenmean in that respect, and if what they have granted me is not enough, Ishall put as many hundreds as are required out of my own pocket to makeup the deficiency, so that in all probability I shan't have a penny toleave you, Pickle, when I die. "

"When you die!" cried the boy scornfully. "Who wants you to die? Andwho wants you to leave me any money? I say, Uncle Paul, who's talkingnonsense now?"

"How dare you, sir!"

"Then you shouldn't say such things, uncle. Talking about dying! Therewill be plenty of time to talk about that in a hundred years. "

"Well, that's a very generous allowance, Pickle, and if we get such aschooner as I want, with a clever crew, and you work hard with me, why, we ought to make a good many discoveries by that time. A hundred yearshence, " continued Uncle Paul thoughtfully, as he apparently brought histelescope to bear upon a sloop of war whose white sails began to betinged with orange as the sun sank low; but all the time he was peeringout through the corners of his eyes to note the effect of his words uponhis nephew. "But let me see--a hundred years' time. Why, how mucholder will you be then, Pickle?"

"Why, just the same as you would, uncle; a hundred years older than I amnow. Pooh! You are making fun of me. But I say, uncle, be serious. How are you going to manage to get your schooner?"

"Set to work, and lose no time, my boy. But I am rather puzzled at thepresent moment, and I am afraid--"

Uncle Paul lowered the glass as he spoke, and turned his eyesthoughtfully upon his nephew, who had uttered a low peculiar sound. 

"Of being sea-sick, uncle?" Uncle Paul smiled. 

"I suppose that's what you call retaliation, young gentleman. Well, no, sir, I'm not afraid of that--at least, not much. I remember the firsttime I crossed the Channel that I was very ill, and every time I havebeen at sea since I have always felt that it would be unwise to boast;but I think both you and I can make our voyage without being troubled inthat way. But we won't boast, Pickle, for, as they say, we will notholloa till we are out of the wood. Let me see; isn't there an oldproverb something about a man not boasting till he taketh off hisarmour?"

"I think so, uncle, but I cannot recollect the words. "

"Well, I don't want any armour, my boy, but I do want a well-foundschooner--a new one if I can get it; if not, one that will stand athorough examination; and I don't know that such a boat's to be got justnow it's wanted. There are plenty of ramshackle old things lying abouthere, but I want everything spick-and-span ready for the extra fittingout I shall give her. Copper-fastened, quick-sailing, roomy, and withgood cabin accommodation so that we can have a big workshop for the menwho help us, and a sort of study and museum for ourselves. Now, Pickle, where shall we have to go to find such a craft? Portsmouth--London?What about Southampton?"

"Southampton. Yes. Some fine yacht, uncle. "

"No, boy. She'd be all mast and sails. Do well for a coaster, but Iwant an ocean-going craft, one that will bear some knocking about. Acargo boat whose hold one could partition off for stores. Now then?"

There was silence for about a minute, and then Uncle Paul spoke again. 

"There, out with it, boy, at once. Don't waste time. Say you don'tknow. "

"But I think I do know, uncle, " cried the boy. 

"Eh? What? Where? Tchah! Not you!"

"But what about one of those boats the French prisoners escaped in?"cried Rodd eagerly. 

"Eh? What? One of those trim orange boats that go on the MediterraneanTrade, that they build at Salcombe?"

"Yes, uncle. Don't you remember that one we were looking at a fewmonths ago, that came in here after the storm, to get a new jibboom?"

"Why, of course I do, Pickle!" cried Uncle Paul eagerly. "Think ofthat, now! Why, I might have been fumbling about with a hammer formonths and not found what I wanted, and here are you, you impudent youngrascal, proving that you are not quite so stupid as I thought, for youhit the right nail on the head at once. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

CAPTAIN CHUBB. 

The next day was spent in Plymouth, and letting the idea of a visit toSalcombe rest in abeyance for a time, Uncle Paul called on differentshipping agents, made inquiries in the docks, looked over two or threesmall vessels that he was assured would be exactly the thing he wanted, and which could be handed over to him at once if decided on; and atlast, utterly wearied out, he returned home with Rodd very muchimpressed by the feeling that it was much easier to say what herequired, than to get his wants supplied. 

He was a little better after they had had a good hearty tea meal, butthere was a great deal of truth in Rodd's mental remark that Uncle Paulwas as cross as two sticks. Rodd quite started, feeling as he did thathe must have spoken aloud, and Uncle Paul have heard his words, for thedoctor turned upon him sharply, stared him full in the face, andexclaimed--

"Now, look here, sir; didn't I explain to each of those agents exactlythe sort of vessel I wanted before they gave me their orders to go andview the craft where they lay in dock or on the mud?"

"Yes, uncle, you told them exactly, " replied Rodd. 

"Do I look like an idiot, Rodd?"

"No, uncle. What a question!"

"Then how dare the scoundrels deal with me as if I didn't know what Iwas about! I said a schooner as plain as I could speak. "

"You did, uncle. "

"And one sent me to see that ramshackle old brig that looked as if itmight have been a tender out of the Armada, and the two others sent meto see a barque that would want twice as big a crew as I should take, and the other to look over that abominable old billy-boy that youcouldn't tell bow from stern, which so sure as she bumps upon a sandbankwould melt away like butter. Thinking of nothing else but making a bitof commission, ready to sell one anything; but I am not going to betricked like that. --Yes, what do you want? What is it?"

For the neat handmaid who attended on the doctor's wants had tapped atthe door, and receiving no answer from her master, whose voice she couldhear declaiming loudly, opened the door and walked in, with--

"Somebody wants to see you, sir, if you please. "

"Then tell somebody I don't please, " said the doctor shortly. 

"Yes, sir, " said the maid, going. 

"No, stop! I don't want to be rude, even if people have put me out. What does Mrs Somebody want?"

"Please, sir, it isn't a Mrs, it's a Mister, " said the girl. 

"Go and see him, Rodd, " said the doctor shortly. "I expect it'ssomebody wants subscriptions, and I haven't got any. "

"Please, sir, " interposed the maid, "the--er--gent--person--said he'dheard say that you wanted a captain. "

Uncle Paul grunted, frowned, and then in a surly tone exclaimed--

"Well, there, show him in. "

The next minute the maid re-opened the door, showing in a heavy, sun-tanned, middle-aged man, who thrust the cap he carried into theyawning pocket of a dark blue pea-jacket, stared hard at the doctor, glanced at Rodd, and then turning sharply on his heels he stood with hisback to the latter, stiff, squared, and sturdy, looking as the boythought like a hop-sack set on end, and stared at the maid where shestopped, literally fixing her with his eyes for a few moments, before, quite startled at the fierceness of his gaze, she darted out, closingthe door loudly. 

"Business. Private!" literally growled the visitor. 

"Well, what is it?" said the doctor shortly. 

"'Eard you wanted a skipper, and come up. "

"Well, " said Uncle Paul, looking very hard at his unprepossessingvisitor, while Rodd felt as if he wanted to laugh, but held the desirein check, "I may want one by and by, and a crew too; but I must have aship first. "

"What sort?"

"Well, you are pretty blunt, " said the doctor. 

"Yes, " said the visitor, with a nod; and he waited, but turned his eyesfrom the doctor and looked very hard at the nearest chair. 

"Ah, yes, " said the doctor. "Sit down, Captain--Captain--"

The doctor waited for an answer, but the only answer made was by amovement, his visitor taking two steps towards the chair, and plumpingdown so heavily that the brass casters creaked. 

The doctor glanced at his nephew, and then at the stranger, who seemedto be frowning at him with all his might. 

"Er--what did you say your name was, captain?"

"Didn't say, " said the visitor huskily. "Wanter know?"

"Well--yes, " said the doctor. "I don't see how we are to transactbusiness without. "

"Chubb, Jonathan. "

"Well, Captain Chubb?"

"Plymouth. "

"Oh, I see; Captain Chubb, of Plymouth, " continued the doctor. 

"Right. Go on. "

"Well, I gave you to understand that I wanted a ship before I engaged acaptain. "

"Skipper; not R. N. "

"I see; but I wished to be polite, " said the doctor. 

"Skipper, " grunted the man. 

"Where have you sailed?" asked the doctor. 

"Everywhere. "

"Ah! Then you have had plenty of experience. "

The visitor nodded, and the doctor was going to speak again, but thevisitor interposed with a sidewise nod in the direction of Rodd, andsaid--

"Your boy?"

"Well, yes, in a way, " replied the doctor. 

The captain grunted. 

"Boys always are, " he said, and Rodd turned upon him angrily. 

"I said in _a_ way, not in _the_ way, " muttered the doctor. 

"'Most the same, " growled the captain. "A boy, the boy, means boy. What sort of a ship? First, where do you want to go?"

"I don't quite know myself, " replied the doctor, "so we will say as youdid, everywhere. "

"Right, " said the captain. "What for?"

"Why do you ask?" replied the doctor, rather tartly. 

"Had four offers. Wouldn't take them. "

"Why?" asked the doctor. 

"Smuggling contraband. "

"Oh, I see, " said the doctor quickly. "Well, it's nothing of thatsort. "

"When do you sail?"

"As soon as I can get a ship. "

"Plenty lying about waiting for cargo. Take your choice. "

"That seems to be easier said than done, captain, for I am hard toplease. "

"So'm I, " said the visitor, staring hard at Rodd, beginning with thecrown of his head and then looking him slowly down where he sat till hereached the carpet by Rodd's right foot, and then making his eyes crossover, he began at the toe of the boy's left foot and slowly looked himup to where he had started at the top of the boy's forehead, where atickling sensation had commenced, consequent upon the starting out of afaint dew of perspiration. 

"I'm glad to hear it, " said the doctor, "for I want a well-found craft, new or nearly so, built of the best materials. "

"Good; ought to be. What sort?"

"Well, I should like a large schooner, fast and with plenty of roombelow. "

"Cargo?" grunted the captain. 

"No. Provisions, etcetera, " said the doctor, who was beginning to feelannoyed. 

"Ho!" came in a grunt, and then after a keen look at Rodd's uncle, heuttered the one word, "Weepens?"

"Weepens?" said the doctor. 

"Yes. Long Tom and small-arms. "

"Oh, arms. Yes, I should certainly have one of those big swivel gunsamidships, and a couple of smaller ones, as well as muskets, cutlassesand boarding pikes. "

So far the captain's features seemed as if they had been carved out ofsolid mahogany, but now they began to relax; his lips parted, and heshowed a small even set of beautifully white teeth, while his eyeslooked brighter to Rodd and seemed to twinkle; but he remained silent. 

"Well, " said the doctor, "what are you laughing at?"

He checked the word which had nearly escaped his lips, because hethought it would be rude, and he did not say grinning. 

"Cat, " said the man solemnly, and to Rodd's great discomposure he turnedto him and winked. 

"Cat?" said the doctor sharply. 

"Ay, ay! Out of the bag. "

"I don't understand you, " said the doctor warmly. 

"Won't do for me, master. Not in my way. "

"Well, " said the doctor, "I am afraid I must say you are not in my way. "

"Poor beggars!"

"Well, really, my good man, " began the doctor, "I am a bit of a student, and take a good deal of interest in natural history. Cats may be poorbeggars, but that is no business of mine. "

"Yes, if you are going to sail. Think of your crew. "

"I am thinking of my crew, and I want to engage one, " said the doctor. 

"Men hate black cats. Unlucky. "

"I have heard of that superstition before, Captain Chubb, " said thedoctor, "but that seems to be quite outside our business now. As acaptain--or skipper--I should have thought you would have been abovesuch childish notions. "

"Am, " said the man. "T'other won't do for me. I've seen it all. Won'tget a skipper from this port. "

"Why?" said the doctor indignantly. "I am ready to give an experiencedcaptain good payment. "

"Want commission. "

"Oh, nonsense! I couldn't pay on commission. "

"Nowt to me. That's what a skipper would want. Ought to be ashamed ofyourself. "

"Well, of all--" began the doctor; but the skipper did not let himfinish. 

"Too bad, " he said, growling; "and to take a boy like that!"

"My good fellow, " said the doctor, "if I choose to take my nephew withme upon a natural history expedition--"

"Natural history expedition! Catching blackbirds! Oh, I say!"

He shook his head slowly at the doctor, whose face grew so red withwrath as he turned towards Rodd, and looked so comical, that the boycould not contain himself, but bent his face down into his hands andburst into a roar of laughter. 

"You are a nice 'un, " grunted the captain, shaking his head now at Rodd. "You'll grow into a beauty!"

It was the boy's turn to look angry now, and he glanced from the captainto his uncle and back. 

"Look here, youngster, " cried the captain; "Guinea Coast, eh?"

"Possibly, " said the doctor. 

"Bight of Benin?"

"Maybe, " said the doctor, the short speech seeming contagious. 

"Ketch the fever?"

"Probably, " said the doctor. 

"Both on yer. "

"Well, sir, I shall risk that, " continued the doctor. 

"Both on yer off your heads, seeing niggers. Rattling their chains. "

"Are you mad, man?" cried the doctor. "Yes. "

"I thought so. "

"Makes me. Call yourself a Christian! Give it up, and do somethinghonest. "

"Well, of all--" cried the doctor again. 

"Good five guineas better than five hundred got by buying and sellingyour fellow-creatures, " continued the captain, who was growing quitefluent. "Go to Bristol with you! Won't do for me. "

"Mr--I mean, Captain Chubb, " began the doctor, "allow me to tell youthat you have done nothing but insult me ever since you have been here. "

"Honesty, " grunted the captain. 

"Honesty is no excuse for rudeness, sir. Now have the goodness to go. "

"Going, " said the captain, rising. "But you are a bad man. To takethat boy with you too! Shame!"

"Will you have the goodness to tell me what you mean, sir?"

"No good to bully, sir. I know. Off on the slave trade. "

"What!" cried the doctor. 

"But look out. King's cruiser will nab you. Sarve you right. "

He moved stiffly, and took two steps towards the door, but stopped andturned sharply upon Rodd, clapped his big hairy hand on the boy'sshoulder, and gripped it fast. "He's a bad 'un, boy. Don't go. " Roddglanced at his uncle, who was staring with bewilderment, while he, whoduring the last few minutes had seen clearly what their visitor meant, burst into another roar of laughter and gripped the skipper by thejacket, as he turned to the doctor. 

"No, no, " he stuttered. "No, no; don't go, captain! Uncle Paul, can'tyou see? He thinks you are going to the West Coast to buy slaves!"

"Well!" cried Uncle Paul, his voice sounding like ten ejaculationssqueezed into one--"Well!"

CHAPTER TEN. 

AT CROSS PURPOSES. 

Captain Chubb stood looking back at Uncle Paul, then at Rodd, then backat Uncle Paul. 

After that he gave a slow, puzzled scratch at his shaggy head as if hardat work trying to make out a mystery, before turning once more to Rodd. 

"I say, youngster, " he cried, "you don't mean that, do you?--Warn't Iright?"

"Right? No!" cried Rodd, laughing more heartily than ever. "The ideaof Uncle Paul going out with a slaver!"

"Did you mean that, Captain Chubb?" said Uncle Paul, beginningindignantly, and then softening down as he caught sight of his nephew'smirthful face. 

"Allus says what I mean, " grunted the captain. "Then I was all wrong?"

"Wrong, yes, " said Uncle Paul. "We were all at cross purposes. "

"Ho!" ejaculated the captain, and he took off his cap that he had put onwith a fierce cock, turned it over two or three times in his hands, andthen looking into it read over the maker's name to himself, as if fullyexpecting that that would help him out of his difficulty. 

"Say, squire, " he said; "I didn't mean to be so rude. "

"No, no, of course not, " cried Uncle Paul. "There, there; sit downagain. It was all a mistake. Perhaps we shall understand one anotherbetter now. "

"Well, I don't know, " grunted the skipper. "Better go perhaps. "

"No, no, man; I'm not offended. You thought I was a blackguardlyruffian who wanted to trap you into commanding a slaving craft for me, so that I could engage in that horrible trade of baying and selling myfellow-creatures; and you spoke out like a man. Here, shake hands, Captain Chubb. I honour you for your outspoken manly honesty. "

"Mean it?" grunted the skipper, hesitating. 

"Mean it, yes, " said Uncle Paul, "and I hope this will be the beginningof our becoming great friends. "

"Humph!" grunted the captain, and extending his heavy hand he gave UnclePaul a shake with no nonsense about it, for though Rodd's uncle did notwince, he told the boy afterwards that it was the most solid shake hehad ever had in his life. 

Rodd fully endorsed it, as he knew directly after exactly what theskipper's salute meant, for Captain Chubb, after releasing the uncle'shand, extended what Rodd afterwards said was a paw, to the lad himself. 

"Well, now then, Captain Chubb. "

"Very sorry, sir, I'm sure. Thought I saw broken water and a shoal. Hadn't I better go?"

"No, no, captain, " cried Uncle Paul. "I am beginning to think you arejust the man I want. "

"Ho!" said the skipper. "Mebbe. Let's see. "

"Well, " continued Uncle Paul, "I want a vessel, a schooner. Do you knowof a likely one that could be purchased and made ready at once for atrip down the West Coast?"

Captain Chubb looked hard at the speaker, then at Rodd, with the effectof making the boy feel as if he must laugh, for there was something sothoroughly comical in the stolid face, that nothing but the dread ofhurting the visitor's feelings kept him from bursting into a roar, especially as, after fixing him with his eyes, the skipper seemed to betaking careful observations, looking up at the ceiling as if in searchof clouds, at the carpet for sunken rocks, and then, so to speak, sweeping the offing by slowly gazing at the four walls in turn. 

"Schooner, " he said at last gruffly. 

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul; "a smart, fast-sailing schooner. "

"Well-found, " grunted the skipper. 

"Of course, and with a good crew. "

"_And_ a good crew, " growled the skipper. 

"Yes. Can you show me where I can get such an one?"

"No. Look-out. "

He picked up and put on his cap again, took it off, and looked in thelining, and then gave his right leg a smart slap. 

"Dunno as I don't, " he roared. "What do you say to a horange boat?"

"Orange boat?" cried Rodd. "Why, uncle's been thinking of one ofthose!"

"Well, why not?" said the captain; "a Saltcomber?"

"Yes, " cried Rodd. 

"Well-built, fast, plenty of room below for cargo or what not, plenty ofprovisions and water, but no guns. "

"That's just the sort of vessel I want, " cried Uncle Paul. "Do youthink one's to be had over there?"

"Sure on it. See one last week as they was just getting up her standingrigging. "

"What, a new one?" cried Rodd. 

"Ay. Fresh launched, and being made ready for sea. "

"Capital!" cried Uncle Pad. "Who does she belong to?"

"Ship-builder as yet. "

"And what would be her price?"

"Dunno. All depends, " grunted the captain. "Most likely as much as thebuilder could get; but if a man went with the money in his pocket, orsay in the bank, ready to pay down on the nail, he could get a smartcraft that would do him justice at a fair working price. What do yousay to coming over and having a look at her?"

"Yes. How are we to get there? By coach?"

"Tchah!" ejaculated the skipper. "Who's going in a coach when he can berun over in one of our luggers? You say the word, and I have got afriend with a little fore-and-after as only wants him and a hand andmebbe me to give a pull at a sheet. He'd run you over in no time. "

"By all means, then, let's go, " said Uncle Paul, to Rodd's greatsatisfaction. 

"Well, yes, " growled the skipper. "But who's a-going with you?"

"My nephew, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Ah, yes; and I suppose he's a good judge of such a craft, and couldvally her from keel to truck. Don't seem a bad sort of boy, but hewon't do. Nay, squire, you want somebody as you can trust. A'n't yougot an old friend, ship-owner or ship's husband--man who's got his headscrewed on the right way, one you knows as honest and won't take ahundred pounds from t'other side to sell the ship for them?"

"Well, no; I'm afraid I don't know such a man, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Have to find one, " grunted the skipper. "Won't do to buy a ship withyour eyes shut. Got yourself to think of as well as your money. Youdon't want to engage a skipper and a crew of good men and true, anddrownd them all at sea. "

"Well, no, " said Uncle Paul dryly; "our ambitions don't lie in thatdirection, do they, Rodd?"

"No, uncle, but no man would be such a wretch as to sell you a ship thatwasn't safe. "

"Not unless he got the chanst, " said the skipper, frowning. "I knowsome on them, and what they have done, and I don't want to command acraft like that. Been at sea too long. "

"Well, then, " said Uncle Paul, "you must have had great experience, andcould judge whether a schooner's good or not. "

"Dessay I could, " said the skipper, "but I aren't perfect. "

"But you ought to be a good judge, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Mebbe, but I wouldn't go by my own opinion if it was my trade insteadof yourn. "

"But look here, " cried Uncle Paul, "I should like you to see the vesseland act for me. "

"Tchah! Not likely, squire. What do you know about me?"

"Well, not much, certainly, " said Uncle Paul, "and I should want acharacter with you as to your being a good seaman. "

"Of course; and if you didn't like me, and I warn't up to my work, why, you could get rid of me. But that's a very different thing to buying aship. "

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul, "but what about the ship-builder? Is he anhonest man?"

"Oh yes, I think so. "

"Couldn't he give good references?"

"Well, yes. Old established; built a lot of craft. Dessay he'd find afew to say a word for him. "

"And I suppose I could have the opinion of some well-known ship valuer?"

"Yes, " grunted the skipper, "but he's only in trade. You want to knowwhat some old sailor says. "

"Such as you, " cried Rodd. 

The skipper looked at the boy and smiled. 

"Well, mebbe, " he said, "but I don't want the job. "

"Well, we'll talk about that another time, " said Uncle Paul. "What Iwant is for you to help me by going over with us to have a look at theschooner. "

"Ah!" said the skipper. 

"And you may as well give me a reference or two to somebody who knowsyour abilities--somebody well-known in Plymouth, a ship-owner, somebodyfor whom you have sailed. Will you do this?"

"Ay, " said the skipper. 

"Well, whose name will you give me? To whom shall I apply?"

"Anybody. Everybody in Plymouth. "

"That's rather wide, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Wider the better, " said the skipper. "You ask the lot what they thinksof Captain Chubb. "

As he spoke the skipper rose and put on his cap, but took it off againquickly. 

"Time to-morrow will you be ready to start?" he said. 

"At your time, " said Uncle Paul promptly. 

"Say nine?" asked the captain. 

"Certainly; nine o'clock to-morrow morning, " replied Uncle Paul. 

"Good. I will be off the landing-place at the Barbican with a boat. Night, sir. Night, youngster. Natural history expedition, eh? And Ithought you was going blackbirding! Haw, haw, haw!"

This last was intended for a derisive laugh at himself, but it soundedlike three grunts, each louder than the last. 

The next minute the skipper was outside, and his steps were heardgrowing distant upon the gravel path. 

"Well, what do you think of our captain, eh, Rodd?"

"I think he's a rum 'un, uncle; but he isn't our captain yet. "

"No, my boy, but if I have my way he will be, and if I hear that he's askilful navigator, for I want no further recommendation. The way inwhich he, an old experienced hand, one who would be able to see at aglance how thoroughly I should be at his mercy if he were a tricksterwhose aim was to make as much money out of the transaction as he could, proved that he was as honest as the day and ready to lay himself open toevery examination, that alone without his display of honest indignationwhen he suspected me of being about to engage in that abominabletraffic--there, I want no more. As these sea-going people say, Pickle, Captain Chubb is going to hoist his flag on board my schooner, for asfar as I can judge at present he seems to be the man in whom we shall beable to trust. "

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

THROUGH THE STORM. 

"It's enough to make a man say he'll throw up the whole affair, " criedUncle Paul, running his fingers in amongst his grizzly hair and givingit a savage tug. 

"Uncle! Why, what's the matter now?"

"Yes, you may well say what's the matter now! Everything's the matter. The worry's almost maddening. "

"What, is there anything fresh, uncle?"

"There, don't you take any notice, boy. I get regularly out of heart. There's always something wrong. It's as if we were never to be off. All these weary, weary months gone slowly dragging on. "

"Why, uncle, they seem to me to go like lightning, " cried Rodd. 

"Oh, yes, of course. You are a boy, with plenty of time before you. Iam getting an old man, and with little time to spare to do all the workI want to. I seem to get not a bit farther. "

"Why, you do, uncle. It's astonishing what a lot we have done. Let'ssee; it's just fifteen months since you bought the schooner. "

"Fifteen, boy? You mean fifty. "

"Fifteen, uncle; and she was nothing like finished then. "

"No, and as soon as the men knew that she was sold, I believe they madeup their minds to spin the job out as long as they could. "

"Oh, but, uncle, they did it all very beautifully; and see what a lot ofalterations you had made. "

"Had made, indeed! Wasn't I led on into having them done by that oldscoundrel Chubb?"

"No, uncle. He always consulted with you first, and advised this andthat so as to make the vessel better. "

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul. 

"Then see what a lot you had done, fitting up the work-room, and thebottles and tanks, and getting in the dredging apparatus. It does seema long time to you, but see what a lot there was to do. You know youwere never satisfied. "

"I was, sir! Don't you get accusing me of such things, Rodney. Yougrow more impertinent every day. Now put a regular check upon yourself, sir. If you are like this as a boy I don't know what you are going tobe when you grow to be a man. "

"Well, uncle, I won't say another word about it. "

"Ah! No sulking, sir! I command you to go on speaking at once. "

"Very well, uncle; but you did say that you would have everything of thebest, and that nothing should be left undone, to hinder the expeditionfrom being successful. "

"Did I say so, Rodd?"

"Why, yes, uncle, over and over again. "

"Well, well, I did mean it. But I am getting quite out of heart. Everyday it seems as if there is something fresh to throw us back. Now it'sstores; now it's something else wants painting; now one of the crewwants a holiday, just at a time too when things are so nearly ready thatI might want to start at any moment. "

"Well, I shall be glad when we do get off now, uncle, " said the boythoughtfully. 

"Then you had better give up thinking about it, boy. It looks to melike another six months before we can be ready. "

"Oh no, uncle! Captain Chubb said to me yesterday that if I wanted toget anything else to take with me I must get it at once. "

"Then don't you believe him, Rodd. He's a dilatory old impostor. Idon't believe he means for me to go at all. By the way, did you havethe men up and give them that big medicine chest?"

"Yes, uncle; the day before yesterday. "

"Oh, and were those little casks of spirits got into the store-room?"

"Yes, uncle. I saw the men get them on board myself. "

"That's right. But look here, Pickle; were you with them all the time?"

"Yes, uncle. You told me to be, before you went up to London. "

"That's right, Rodd. But--er--did you--did you hear the men make anyremark about them?"

"No, uncle; but I saw them smell the bung-holes and look at one anotherand laugh. "

"Humph!" said the doctor, smiling. "By the way, I think I'll go onboard now and have a look round. There are several things I want to seeto, those casks and kegs among the rest. "

"They were all put just as you gave orders, uncle. "

"Yes; but I want to test the spirits all the same. Here, we may as wellgo on board at once. "

"Very well, " cried the boy eagerly. "Is there any little thing we cantake with us?"

"No, my boy. As far as I am concerned, I think I can say everything isready. "

It was not long before the doctor and his nephew were down at thelanding-place and being rowed across the harbour to where a beautifullytrim full-sized schooner lay moored to one of the great buoys; and oncoming alongside they were hailed by Captain Chubb, whose face seemed toshine with animation as he helped his chief on board. 

"Morning, sir!" he cried. "I was just wishing that you would come onboard. "

"Bah!" exclaimed Uncle Paul. "What wants doing now?"

"Nothing. Not as I know of. "

"Oh, are you sure?" said Uncle Paul sarcastically, "Sartin, unless youhave got some more bottles or cranky tackle to be stowed away, sir. "

"Oh, indeed, " said Uncle Paul shortly. "You don't mean to say you havedone at last?"

"Me, sir? Why, I was ready six months ago, only you had always got somenew scheme you wanted fitted in. "

"Ah, well, never mind about that now, " cried Uncle Paul. "Then we mayset sail any day?"

"'Cept Friday, sir. The men wouldn't like that. To-night if you like. "

"Ah, well, we won't go to-night, " said the doctor. 

"Only give your orders, sir, " said the captain shortly. "Like to take alook round now? Fresh provisions are all on board. "

"Oh no, " said Uncle Paul, "I know it all by heart. "

"Looks a beauty now, don't she, sir?"

"Oh yes, she looks very well. Here, Rodd, come down with me into thework-room. "

The doctor strode off aft at once, the captain following slowly with theboy; and as their chief descended the cabin stairs Captain Chubb cockedhis eye at his young companion. 

"Bit rusty this morning, " he whispered. 

"Yes; uncle's getting out of patience, " whispered back Rodd. 

"No wonder, " said the captain. "Well, 'tarn't my fault. I never seesuch a doctor's shop and museum as he's made of the craft. "

"Now, Rodney!" came from below sharply. 

"Coming, uncle!" cried the boy, snatching at the brass rail, which, likeevery bit of metal about the beautiful vessel, shone as brightly as ifit were part of a yacht. 

The doctor was standing at the foot of the stairs with his hand upon adoor, which he had just unlocked, and he led the way into a well-litportion of the vessel which had originally been intended for the stowageof cargo, but which was now fitted up with an endless number ofarrangements such as had been deemed necessary for the carrying out ofthe expedition. 

One portion was like a chemical laboratory. Upon dresser-like tablesfitted against the bulkhead were rows of railed-in bottles and jars, andbeneath them new bright microscopes and other apparatus such as wouldgladden the heart of a naturalist. But the doctor gave merely a cursoryglance at these various objects, with whose arrangement he had long beenfamiliar, and made his way to where, set up on end upon a stout bench, were about a dozen specially made spirit casks, each fitted with its tapand a little receptacle hung beneath to catch any drops that might leakaway. 

"Here, I want to test these, " said the doctor; "and, by the way, askCaptain Chubb to step down. "

There was no need, for almost at the same moment the captain's heavystep was heard upon the metal-covered cabin stairs. 

"Anything I can do, sir?" he asked, in his gruff way. 

"Yes, look here, captain, " said the doctor, and he took a bright glassmeasure from where it hung by its foot in a little rack, safe fromfalling by the rolling of the vessel; "I was just going to test thesespirits, and I thought I should like you to be here. "

"Hah!" said the captain. "I've thought a deal about all them littlebarrels put so handy there, ready on tap, and it's the only thing Idon't like, Dr Robson. "

"Why?" said Uncle Paul shortly. 

"Why, it's just like this, sir. I have picked you out as sober a crewas ever went on a voyage, but sailors are sailors, sir, and I don'tthink it's right to be throwing temptation in their way. "

"But this, my workshop, where I bottle my specimens, will always be keptunder lock and key. "

"Nay!" snorted the captain. 

"But I tell you it will, " cried Uncle Paul. "Nobody will have anybusiness here but my nephew and me. "

"That's what you mean, " said the captain, "but how about times when youare busy, or forget and leave it open? Can't warrant always to keep itshut. "

"Well, " said Uncle Paul, with a curious smile, "I have thought of that, "and going to one of the little casks he turned the tap and let about acouple of tablespoonfuls of liquid that looked like filtered water flowinto the little glass measure, covering the bottom to about an inch indepth. "There, " said the doctor, holding up the glass to the light;"just taste that, captain. "

"Nay. I don't mind a drop of good rum at the proper season, but I don'tcare about spirits like that. "

"I only want you to taste it, " said the doctor. "It's too strong todrink. "

"I know, " said the captain. "Burns like fire. "

"Just taste, but don't swallow it. "

"Nay--Well, I'll do that. But it looks like physic. "

The speaker just dipped his fore-finger into the liquid, and touched hislips, to cry angrily--

"Why, it's pison!"

"No, " said the doctor; "proof alcohol for preserving my specimens. Ifby accident any of the men taste that they won't want any more, willthey?"

"Don't know, " said the captain. "Maybe they'd water it down. "

"Fill that measure with water, Rodd, " said the doctor. 

The boy took the glass to a big stone filter covered with basketwork, and filled the measure to the brim. 

"Now try it, captain, " said the doctor. 

This time with a scowl of dislike, the captain raised the glass to hislips, but set it down again quickly and hurried to a little leaden sinkin one corner of the laboratory. 

"Worse than ever, doctor. "

"Well, do you think the men will water that down?"

"Not they! One taste will be quite enough. "

"You don't think I need label those casks `Temptation, ' do you?"

"Nay, sir. If you want to be honest to the lads, I should put `Pison'upon them in big letters. "

"I would, " said the doctor dryly, "but, as you say, sailors are sailors, and I don't think they'd believe it if I did. "

"What have you put in it, sir?"

"Ah! that's my secret, Captain Chubb. "

"Well, I hope none of the lads will touch it; but it's sperrits, youknow. Won't answer for it that if one of them was helping you to bottleup some of them things as we shall fish up when we gets into theTropics, he wouldn't be trying a sip. "

"I shouldn't be surprised either, " said the doctor, "but if he did hewouldn't do it again. "

The skipper looked at him sharply. 

"Don't mean that, do you, sir?" he cried. 

"Indeed, but I do, " replied the doctor. 

"Going too far, " growled the skipper. "Look here, doctor; I've fellinto all your ways like a man, and have helped to drill the chaps intohandling your tackle, which is outside an able seaman's dooties; but Idon't like this 'ere a bit. "

"I can't help that, " said the doctor, bristling up. "I shall of coursetell them that they must not touch this stuff, of which no doubt I shalluse a great deal, and it will be in direct opposition to my orders ifthey give way to the temptation. "

"Right enough, " said the skipper, "but seamen's weak--like babies insome things--and a good skipper has to be like a father to them, to keepthem out of mischief. Don't know no better, doctor. You do, and it'stoo strong, sir; it's too strong. "

"Then let them leave it alone, " said the doctor hotly. 

"That's right, sir, but maybe they won't. Don't mean to say that I amstupid over them, but when I get a good crew I like to take care ofthem. Here, I'm getting out of breath. Can't make long speeches. Cutit short. "

"Then say no more about it, " said the doctor. 

"Nay, it won't do. Taking out a good crew of smart lads. Want to bringthem all back, not leave none of them sewed up in their hammocks andsunk in the sea with a shot at their heels. Look here, sir; how many ofthem there kegs have you doctored?"

"All of them. Why, my good fellow, you don't think I have put poisonin, do you?"

"Said you had. "

"Pooh! Nonsense! My boy Rodd and I tried experiments to see how nastywe could make the spirits without being dangerous. There's nothingthere that would hurt a man; only you mustn't tell them so. "

"Oh-h-h! That's another pair of shoes, as the Frenchies say;" and theskipper went up on deck. 

"Thick-head!" growled the doctor. "Did he fancy I was going to kill aman for meddling? Bah!"

"He did, uncle. He doesn't know you yet. "

"Well, I suppose not, my boy, but I am beginning to think that we aregetting to know the crew pretty well by heart. Well, all we want now isa favourable wind, then we will hoist our sailing flag; and then--off. "

"For how long, uncle?"

"Ah, that's more than I can say, Rodd, my boy. We'll see what luck wehave, and how the stores last out. We'll get started, and leave therest. "

Two days later the start had been made, with everything as ready as thecombined efforts of the doctor's and Captain Chubb's experience couldcontrive, and with his face all smiles Dr Robson stood beside Rodd, watching the receding shore as they, to use the skipper's words, bowleddown Channel. 

"Good luck to us, Pickle, my boy!" cried the doctor. "It's been a longweary time of preparation, but it has been worth it. We have got asplendid captain--a man in whom I can thoroughly trust, and a crew of assmart, handy, useful fellows as I could have wished for. "

"Yes, uncle; and haven't they taken to all the arrangements about thetackle!"

"Yes, Pickle. They have all proved themselves not only eager andactive, but as much interested as so many boys. Splendid fellows; andold Chubb knows how to handle them too. Fetch my glass up, Pickle. Let's have a look at the old country as long as we can. "

Rodd darted off to the cabin hatch, but he staggered once or twice, forthe schooner as she rose and fell kept on careening a little over toleeward, and in passing one of the sailors--a fine bluff-looking youngfellow--the man smiled. 

"Here, what are you grinning at, Joe Cross?" cried Rodd, who, after manymonths of intercourse with the crew, was fully acquainted with all, andknew a good many of their peculiarities. 

"Oh, not at you, Mr Harding, sir. It was a little bit of a snigger atyour boots. "

"What!" cried Rodd. 

"Just a little guffaw, sir. You see, the deck's as white as a holystonewill make it, and your boots is black, and black and white never didagree. It's beginning to get a bit fresh, sir, and if I was you I'dstriddle a bit, so as to take a bit better hold of the deck with yourfootsies. I shouldn't like to see you come down hard. "

"Oh, I shan't come down, " said Rodd confidently; but as he was speakingthe schooner gave a sudden pitch which sent the boy into the sailor'sarms. 

"Avast there!" cried the man. "Steady, sir!--Steady it is! There, letme stand you up again on your pins. You mustn't do that, or you'll havethe lads thinking you're a himmidge, or a statty, a-tumbling off yourshelf. "

"Thank you. I am all right now, " said Rodd. "My boots are quite new, and the soles are slippery. "

"I see, sir, but it wasn't all that. You see, our Sally's been tied upby the nose for so many months in harbour yonder, that now she's runningfree she can't hold herself in. Ketch hold of the rail, sir. That'syour sort! There she goes again, larking like a young kitten. "

"I didn't know she'd dance about like this on a fine day, " said Roddrather breathlessly. 

"Bless your heart, sir, this arn't nothing to what she can do. See howshe's skipping along now. Aren't it lovely?"

"Well, yes, I suppose so, " said Rodd; "but if it's like this in fineweather, what's it going to be in a storm?"

"Why, ever so much livelier, sir. She'll dance over the waves like acork. She's a beauty, that's what she is. Mustn't mind her being a bitsaucy. There's nothing that floats like a Salcombe schooner, and Inever heard of one as sank yet. "

"Yes, uncle; back directly!" cried the boy; and he made his way onwardto the cabin stairs without mishap, and re-appeared directly afterwardswith the doctor's big telescope under his arm, to make his way as wellas he could to where Uncle Paul was standing forward at the side withhis left arm round one of the stays. 

"Walk straight, boy--walk straight!" cried the doctor, laughing. "Whatmade you zigzag about like that?"

"Didn't want to come down on the deck and break the glass, uncle, " saidRodd rather sulkily. "The schooner oughtn't to dance about like this, ought she?"

"Oh, yes. It's no more than the lugger used to do when we have been outfishing. "

"Oh, yes, uncle; and she's so much bigger too. Besides, we were sittingdown then, and here one has to stand. "

"You can sit down if you like, " said Uncle Paul. 

"What, and have the sailors laugh at me? That I won't! I want to getused to it as soon as I can. "

"Then go and get used to it, " said Uncle Paul. "You can't do better. Ishould like to do the same, but a man can't hop about at fifty, or more, like a boy at fifteen. "

"Why, uncle, I am nearly eighteen. "

"Then go and behave like it, boy. Look at the sailors. They keep theirfeet well enough, without seeming as if they are going to rushoverboard. "

"Oh, I shall soon get used to it, uncle, " cried Rodd. 

But instead of improving that day his progress about the deck wasdecidedly retrograde, for as the time went on and the Channel openedout, the wind from the north-west grew fresher and fresher, and thecaptain from time to time kept the men busy taking in a reef here and areef there. 

Topgallant sails came down; flying jib was hauled in; and towardsevening, as she span along as fast or faster than ever, not above halfthe amount of canvas was spread that she had skimmed under earlier inthe day. 

Every now and then too there was a loud smack against the bows, and ashower of spray made the deck glisten for a few minutes; but it rapidlydried up again, and as the schooner careened over and dashed along, Roddstood aft, looking back through the foam to see how the waves camecurling along after them, as if in full chase of the beautiful littlevessel and seeking to leap aboard. 

The sun had gone down in a bronzy red bank of clouds, and after beingbelow to the cabin tea Rodd had eagerly hurried on deck again, to findthat the sea around was beginning to look wild and strange. 

Whether he made for Josiah Cross, or Joe, as he was generally called, came up to him, Rodd did not know, but as he stood with one arm over therail he soon found himself in conversation. 

"Are we going to have a storm?" he said. 

"Well, I dunno, sir, about storm. More wind coming. "

"How do you know?"

"How do I know, sir?" cried the man. "Why, if you come to that, I don'tknow. Seem to feel it like. I don't say as it will. Wind's nor'-westnow, and has been all day, but I shouldn't wonder if it chopped rightround, and then--"

"There'll be a storm, " said Rodd eagerly. 

"Well, I don't say that, sir; but like enough there will be more windthan we want to use, and we might have to put back. "

"What, now that we have started at last?" cried Rodd. 

The man nodded. 

"Oh, that would be vexatious, " cried Rodd, "to find ourselves back inPlymouth again!"

"There, you wouldn't do that, my lad, " said the man. "If we did have toput back, I should say the skipper would run for Penzance. But there, the wind hasn't chopped round yet, and it's just as likely to fall as itgets dark and we will get our orders to hoist more sail. "

But the sailor's first ideas proved to be right, and not only did thewind veer round, but it increased in force and became so contrary andshifty that during the night it began to blow a perfect hurricane, andgave Captain Chubb a good opportunity of proving that he was nofine-weather sailor. 

It proved to be a bright night, being nearly full moon, with greatflocculent silvery and black clouds scudding at a tremendous rate acrossthe planet, while one minute the schooner's rigging was shadowed inblack upon the white, wet deck, at another all was gloom, with the windshrieking through the rigging, and the _Maid of Salcombe_ proving thetruth of the sailor's words, as she was literally dancing about; like acork. 

"Hadn't you better come below, Rodd?" said the doctor. 

"No, uncle; don't ask me. I couldn't sleep, and I want to look at thestorm. It's so grand. "

"Grand? Well, yes, " said the doctor; "but we could have dispensed withits grandeur, and it seems very unlucky that after all these weeks ofglorious weather it should have turned like this. Ah, here's CaptainChubb. Well, captain, " he continued, "where are we making for? Mount'sBay?"

"No. Give it up. Nasty rocky bit about there, so I laid her head forPlymouth; but we shan't get in there to-night. "

"Where then?" asked the doctor. "Wouldn't it be better to run for theopen sea?"

"No, " said the skipper shortly. "This wind's come to stay, and we mustget into port for a bit. We don't want to get into the Bay of Biscay Owith weather like this. It's going to be a regular sou'-wester. "

"What port shall we make for, then?" asked the doctor, while Rodd caughtall he could of the conversation, as the wind kept coming in gusts andseemed to snatch the words and carry them overboard in an instant. "Havre, " grunted the captain laconically. There was silence for sometime, for it became too hard work to talk, but in one of the intervalsbetween two gusts, a few words were spoken, the doctor asking theskipper if he was satisfied with the behaviour of the schooner. 

"Oh yes, " He grunted; "she's right enough. "

"You are not disappointed, then?"

"No. Bit too lively. Wants some more cargo or ballast to give hersteadiness; but she'll be all right. " All the same this was anexperience very different from anything that Rodd had had before, and itwas not without a severe buffeting that in the early dawn of the morningCaptain Chubb had succeeded in laying the little vessel's head offHavre, so that, taking advantage of a temporary sinking of the wind, hewas able to run her safely into the French port, and this at a time whenit was a friendly harbour, the British arms having triumphed everywhere, the French king being once more upon the throne, and he who had beenspoken of for so long as the Ogre of Elba now lying duly watched andguarded far away to the south, within the rockbound coast of SaintHelena. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

PRIVATE EARS. 

The schooner was run safely into port, but just before she cleared theharbour mouth, down came a tremendous squall of wind as if from roundthe corner of some impossible solid cloud behind which an ambush of thestorm had been lying in wait for the brave little vessel. 

Down it came all at once, just when least expected, and in a few secondsas it struck the little vessel, rushing, in spite of the small amount ofcanvas spread, rapidly for the shelter, every one on deck snatched atthe nearest object to which he could cling. The schooner bravelyresisted for a while, careening over and then rising again, and thendown she went with her masts almost flat upon the foam, and then lyingover more and more as Rodd clung hard with one hand and involuntarilystretched out the other to his uncle as if to say good-bye. For he feltcertain as the water came surging over the leeward rail that the nextminute their voyage would be ended, and the _Maid of Salcombe_ be goingdown. 

It was one horror of breathlessness in the shrieking wind, while thestorm-driven spray cut and lashed and flogged at the crew. 

"It's all over, " gasped the boy, in his excitement, though somehow eventhen there was no feeling of fear. 

Another minute as she still dashed on, plunging through the waves, thevessel began to right again, the masts rising more and more towards theperpendicular, and the water that seemed to have been scooped up in thehollows of the well-reefed sails came streaming back in showers upon thedeck. 

Another minute and Rodd began to get his breath again, panting hard andfeeling as if some great hand had been grasping him by the throat andhad at last released its hold, while as the schooner now skimmed on, every furlong taking her more into shelter, the squall had passed overthem and went sweeping along far away over the town ahead, and the boyfelt a strong grip upon his arm. 

Rodd turned sharply, to face Cross the sailor, who held on to him withhis left while he used his right hand to clear his eyes from the spray. 

"All right, " he said, with his lips close to the boy's ear, so as tomake himself heard, while Rodd winced, for as the man leaned towards himhe poured something less than a pint of salt water from off histightly-tied-on oilskin sou'-wester right into his eyes. 

Rodd nodded without attempting to speak, and the sailor laughed. 

There was something so genial and content in the man's looks, that itsent a thrill of satisfaction through the boy's breast, telling as itdid that they were out of danger, while, as they rapidly glided on, theshrieking of the wind through the rigging grew less and less and themotion of the schooner more and more steady as the harbour was gained. 

"Say, my lad, " said Cross, "I thought we was going to make our firstdive after specimens, and the _Saucy Sally_ seemed to be holding herbreath as she stuck her nose down into it and then jibbed and threwherself over sideways as if she knowed there wasn't depth enough ofwater for the job. "

"Hah!" gasped Rodd hoarsely, for he had been taking in spray as well aswind, and he had now nearly recovered the power of breathing easily andwell. "Why, Joe, I thought we were sinking. "

"Nay, my lad; not us! The _Sally_ was too well battened down, andcouldn't have sunk; but I was getting a bit anxious when it looked as ifwe was going to miss the harbour mouth and go floating in ashore lyingdown as if we had all gone to sleep. "

"Yes, it was horrible, " said Rodd, with a sigh of relief. "But whatwould have happened if we had missed the mouth and gone ashore?"

"Why, what does happen, my lad, when a ship does that? Bumps, and asale arterwards of new-wrecked timber on the beach. But here we are allright, and instead of being ashamed of ourselves we can look themounseers full in the face and tell 'em that if they can manage a betterbit of seamanship than the skipper, they had better go and show us how. "

Joe Cross said no more, for Captain Chubb was roaring orders through aspeaking trumpet, the last bit of canvas was lowered down, and beforelong the schooner was safely moored in the outer harbour as far away asshe could safely get from the vessels that had taken refuge before them, some of them grinding together and damaging their paint and wood, inspite of their busy crews hard at work with fenders and striving to getinto safer quarters, notwithstanding the efforts of the heavy gustswhich came bearing down from time to time. 

The nearest vessel was a handsome-looking brig which they had passed asthey glided in, noting that she was moored head to wind to a heavy buoy. As they passed her to run nearer into shelter Rodd had noticed the nameupon her stern, the _Jeanne d'Arc_, which suggested immediately thepatriotic Maid of Orleans. 

He had forgotten it the next moment, the name being merged with thethought that while the schooner had had so narrow an escape of endingher voyage, the brig had been lying snugly moored to the buoy. But nowas they glided on it became evident that the brig had broken adrift, forall at once, as she lay rolling and jerking at her mooring cable, thedistance between her bows and the huge ringed cask seemed to have growngreater, and from where Rodd stood he could see the glisteningtarpaulins of her crew as they hurried forward in a cluster, and CaptainChubb bellowed an order from where he stood astern, to his men. 

"Aren't coming aboard of us, are they?" thought Rodd, as, heard abovethe wind during a comparative lull, Captain Chubb was roaring out freshorders to his crew; for he had fully grasped the danger, and the menwere ready to slip their cable moorings and glide farther in under barepoles. 

But fortunately this fresh disaster did not come to pass, for as thebrig bore down upon them there was a rush and splash from her bows, ananchor went down, checking her progress a little, then a little more, asshe still came on nearer as if to come crash into the schooner's bows, and Captain Chubb raised his speaking trumpet to his lips to bid his menlet go, prior to ordering them to stand by ready to lower their ownanchor in turn when at a safe distance, when the brig's progressreceived a sudden check, her anchor held, and she was brought up shortnot many yards away. 

"Smart, " said Captain Chubb, "for a mounseer;" and he looked at Rodd ashe spoke, before tucking his speaking trumpet under his arm and thengiving himself a shake like a huge yellow Newfoundland dog to get rid ofthe superabundant moisture. "Well, squire, " he continued, as he cameclose up, "what should you do next?"

Rodd looked at him as if puzzled by the question. Then putting hishands to his mouth he shouted back--

"I should get farther into the harbour, in case that brig broke awayagain. "

"Of course you would, " said the captain, with a grim smile. "Now, don'tyou pretend again that you aren't a sailor, because that was spoken likea good first mate. But we will wait for a lull before we let go, for Idon't want to lose no tackle. But the gale aren't over yet. "

"But we are safe, captain?" said the boy. 

"Yes, " grunted the captain. "Better off than them yonder, " and hepointed to a good-sized vessel which had been running for the harbour, but in vain, for she had been carried on too far and was swept away, totake the shore a mile distant. 

The lull foretold by Captain Chubb enabled him to slip from his mooringsand get the schooner into a sheltered position which he deemedsufficiently snug and far enough away from the brig, whose captain didnot manifest any intention of coming farther in. 

As they were parting company Rodd was standing right forward close toCross, who stood spelling out the name of the brig they were leavingbehind. 

"_Jenny de Arc_" he grunted to Rodd. "That's a rum name for a smartbrig like that. Wonder what she is. I never see'd Jenny spelt likethat afore. That's the French way of doing it, I suppose. "

Rodd took upon himself to explain whose name the brig bore, and thesailor gave vent to a musical growl. 

"Shouldn't have knowed it, " he said; "but as I was a-saying, I wonderwhat she is. Looks to me like what they calls a private ear. "

"Why, that's a man-of-war, isn't it, Joe?"

"Well, a kind of a sort of one, you know, sir. One of them as goes offin war times to hark in private for any bit of news about well-ladenmerchantmen, and then goes off to capture them. "

"But what makes you think that, Joe?" asked Rodd. "Why, look at herrig, sir. See what a heap of sail she could carry. I don't hold with abrig for fast-sailing, but look at the length of them two masts, and seehow she's pierced for guns. She has shut up shop snug enough on accountof the storm, but I'll wager she could run out some bulldogs--I mean, French poodles--as could bark if she liked. Then there's a big long gunamidships. "

"I didn't see it, " said Rodd. "Maybe not, my lad, but I did. "

"Well, but a merchantman might carry guns to defend herself, Joe. "

"Ay, she might, sir; but she wouldn't, unless she was going on a joblike ours and wanted to scare off savages; and that aren't likely, for Ishould say we are the only vessel afloat as is going on such a fishingexpedition as ours. And then look at her crew. "

"What about her crew?" said Rodd. "It seemed to be a very good one sofar as I could see. "

"A deal too good, sir. Who ever saw a merchantman with such a crew asthat? Didn't you see how smart they were in obeying orders and gettingdown that anchor?"

"Why, no smarter than our crew, " said Rodd rather indignantly. 

"Smarter than our crew, Mr Rodd, sir! I should think not!" cried thesailor. "Why, they are French! Still it was very tidy for them. Ishould like to know, though, what they are. I do believe I'm right, andthat she is a private ear. Not been watching us, has she? Seems ratherqueer. "

"Why should she be watching us?"

"Why should a private ear be watching any smart schooner, except to makea prize of her?"

"Oh, but that's in time of war, " cried Rodd. "Ay, sir, but your privateears aren't very particular about that. This is near enough to war timestill, and if I was our skipper I should keep a good sharp eye on thatcraft. But he knows pretty well what he's about. His head is screwedon the right way. But I say, Mr Rodd, how should you like a bit of thereal thing, same as we used to have when I was in a King's ship?"

"What, a naval action?"

"Oh, you may call it that, sir, if you like. I mean a bit of realFrench and English, and see which is best man. "

"Oh, nonsense! That's all over now, Joe. "

"I don't know so much about that, sir. "

"But we are in a friendly port, Joe, and no French ship would dareattack one of ours. "

"No, sir, I know they daren't do it, " said the man stubbornly; "but ifthey could catch us asleep they might have a try. But there, don't yoube uncomfortable. There's too much of the weasel about our skipper, andhe'll be too wide awake to let any Frenchman catch him asleep. "

"Ah, you are thinking a lot of nonsense, Joe, " said Rodd. "The war isall at an end, and Napoleon Bonaparte shut up in prison at Saint Helena. There'll be no more fighting now. "

"Well, sir, I suppose you are right, " said the man, with something likea sigh; "but you see, like some of my mates, I have seen a bit ofsarvice in a King's ship, and we have got our guns on board, and we havejust now been lying alongside--I should say bow and stern--of aFrenchman so as we could slew round and rake her; and it sets a manthinking. But there, I suppose you are right, and there will be nofighting for us this voyage. "

"Of course there won't be. We are friends now with France. "

"Yes, sir, and the French pretends to be friends with us; but all thesame if I was the skipper I should double my night watch and be well onthe look-out for squalls. --Ay, ay, sir!"

Joe Cross answered a hail from the skipper, and was directly after busyat work helping his mates to make all snug aloft, for the wind had sunknow into a pleasant soft gale which seemed to suggest fine weather; butCaptain Chubb shook his head and frowned very severely as he looked outto windward. 

"Nay, my lad, " he said, "we have made our start and got as far as here, but it don't seem to me like getting away just yet, for there's a lot ofweather hanging about somewhere, and as we are in no hurry and are snugin port, I am not going to run the risk of losing any of my tackle whilethe wind is shifting about like this. If I was you I should go in for ageneral dry up, and maybe you and your uncle, if the rain holds off, would like to go and have a look round the town. "

The skipper moved away, and Rodd went to the side to have another lookat the French brig, and then, not satisfied, he went below to fetch thesmall spy-glass, finding his uncle busy re-arranging some of hisapparatus in the laboratory, and as he did not seem to be required, theboy took the small telescope from where it hung and made his way backagain on deck, where he focussed the glass and began to scan the brig, scrutinising her rig and everything that he could command, from trucksto deck, making out the long gun covered by a great tarpaulin, and thenbringing the glass to bear upon such of the crew as came within hisscope. 

And as he watched the well-built, smartly-rigged vessel with suchknowledge as he had acquired during his life at the great English port, he made out, though fairly distant now, that there seemed to besomething in Joe Cross's remarks, so that when he closed his glass to godown below, he began to dwell on the possibility of the smart brig beingindeed a privateer, and this set him thinking of how horrible it wouldbe if she did turn inimical and make an attempt at what would have beenquite an act of piracy if she had followed the _Maid of Salcombe_ out tosea and seized her as a prize. 

"Why, it would break uncle's heart, after all his preparations for theexpedition, " mused the boy; "and besides it would be so treacherous. But Captain Chubb would not give up, I am sure. I never thought of itbefore, but he must have thought a good deal more about an accident suchas this happening when he was taking such pains to drill and train themen. What did he say--that as we were going along a coast where thepeople were very savage and spent most of their time in war andfighting, we ought to be prepared for danger, in case we were attacked. Was he thinking of the French as well as the savages when he said this?Perhaps so. If one of his men thought so, why shouldn't he? Well, Iwill ask him first time I get him alone. Hullo! What are they doingthere? Somebody going ashore from the brig. "

Rodd could see with the naked eye the lowering down of a ship's boatover the brig's side, and that made him quickly focus his glass again, and while he was busy scanning the boat as it kissed the water and theoars fell over the side, Joe Cross came up behind him and made himstart. 

"Well, sir, " he said, "what do you make of her now?"

"Nothing, Joe, " said the boy, "only that it seems a very nice brig. "

"Very, sir, and well-manned. Look at that. "

"What?" asked the boy. 

"That there boat they've lowered down, and how she's manned. She's nomerchantman. Look at the way they are rowing. Why, they're likemen-of-war's men, every one. I don't like the looks of she, and if theold skipper don't get overhauling her with them there eyes of his I'm aDutchman; and that's what I ain't. "

"Ah, you make mountains of molehills, Joe, " said Rodd. 

"Maybe, sir; maybe. But I suppose it's all a matter of eddication andtraining to keep watch. There, you see, it's always have your eyesopen, night or day. For a man as goes to sea on board a man-of-war, meaning a King's ship, has to see enemies wherever they are and whereverthey aren't, for even if there bean't none, a chap has to feel thatthere might be, and if he's let anything slip without seeing on it, why, woe betide him! There y'are, sir! Look at that there boat. You havehung about Plymouth town and seen things enough there to know as thatthere aren't a merchant brig. "

"Well, she doesn't look like a merchant's shore boat, certainly, " saidRodd, with his eyes still glued to the end of the telescope. 

"Right, sir, " cried Joe Cross. "Well, then, sir, as she aren't amerchant brig's boat, and the brig herself aren't a man-of-war, perhapsyou will tell me what she is? You can't, sir?"

"No, Joe. "

"No more can I, sir; but if we keeps our eyes open I dare say we shallsee. "

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

IN THE FRENCH PORT. 

In spite of the knocking about by the storm, the schooner was none theworse, and in the course of the day as the weather rapidly settled downand the western gale seemed to have blown itself out, while the sailorshad been busy swabbing the rapidly drying planks, and, the wind havingfallen, shaking out the saturated sails to dry, Uncle Paul strolled withhis nephew up and down the deck, waiting till the skipper seemed to beless busy before going up to him. 

"Well, " said Uncle Paul; "are we damaged at all?"

"Not a bit, " was the gruff reply. "It's done her good--stretched herropes and got the canvas well in shape. "

"But how do you feel about the schooner?"

"As if she was just what we wanted, sir. Given me a lot of confidencein her. "

"Then as the weather is settling down you will sail again to-night?"

"No; I want to get a little more ballast aboard, and this is all alittle bit of show. We shall have more weather before long. I shan'tsail yet. "

The work being pretty well done--that is, as far as work ever is done ina small vessel--Rodd noticed that some of the men had been smarteningthemselves up, and after hanging about a bit watching the captain tillhe went below, Rodd saw them gather in a knot together by the forecastlehatch, talking among themselves, till one of the party, a heavy, dull-looking fellow, very round and smooth-faced and plump, with quite acolour in his cheeks, came aft to where Rodd and his uncle were standingwatching the busy scene about the wharves of the inner harbour, anddiscussing as to whether they should go ashore for a few hours to lookround the town. 

"I am thinking, Pickle, that after such a bad night as we had, we mightjust as well stay aboard and rest, and besides, as far as I can seeeverything's muddy and wretched, and I fancy we should be betteraboard. "

"Oh, I don't know, uncle. We needn't be long, and it will be a change. But here's the Bun coming up to speak to you. "

"The what!" cried Uncle Paul. 

"That man--Rumsey. "

"But why do you call him the Bun?"

"Oh, it's the men's name for him, " said Rodd, laughing. "They nicknamedhim because he was such a round-faced fellow. "

"Beg pardon, sir, " said the man, making a tug at his forelock. 

"Yes, my man; you want to speak to me?"

"Yes, sir; the lads asked me to say, sir, that as it's been a very roughnight--"

"Very, my man--very, " said Uncle Paul, staring. 

"They'd take it kindly, sir, if you'd give about half of us leave to goashore for a few hours. "

"Oh, well, my man, I have no objection whatever, " said Uncle Paul. "Asfar as I am concerned, by all means yes. "

"Thankye, sir; much obliged, sir, " said the man eagerly, and pulling hisforelock again he hurried forward to join the group which had sent himas their spokesman to ask for leave. 

Rodd turned to speak to his uncle, and caught Joe Cross's eye instead, wondering at the man's comical look at him as he closed an eye andjerked one thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the group forwardas they began whispering together, and then, thrust forward towards theside by his companions, the Bun began to signal towards the Frenchmenhanging about the nearest landing-place, where several boats were madefast to the side of the dock. 

Just at that moment the skipper came up from below, saw what was goingon at a glance, strode towards the group, which began to dissolve atonce, the Bun being the only man whose attention was taken up by aboatman who was answering his signal. Just while the signaller wasmaking his most energetic gestures he leaped round in the most startledway, for the skipper had closed up and given him a very smart slap onthe shoulder. 

"Now, Rumsey, what's this?" he cried. 

"Boat, sir. Going ashore, sir. "

"Who is?" said the skipper, frowning. 

"Us six, sir. "

"Us six! Why, you're only one. "

"Yes, sir. These 'ere others too, sir. "

"What others?" cried the captain, and Rumsey, looking anxiously around, found for the first time that he was alone. 

"The lads as was here just now, sir--six on us. "

"Oh, indeed!" said the skipper sarcastically, and raising his cap hegave his rough hair a rub. "Let me see; when did I give you leave to goashore?"

"No, sir; not you, sir. Dr Robson, sir. "

"Oh, I see, " said the skipper. 

This was all said loud enough for Rodd and Uncle Paul to hear, and Roddbegan to grin as he looked at his uncle, whose face assumed a perplexedaspect, one which increased to uneasiness as the captain came up to themat once. 

"Just a word, sir, " he said. "Did you order these men to go ashore?"

"Oh no, " cried Uncle Paul. "One of them came up to me, asking if I hadany objections to their going ashore, and I said, not the least. Isupposed, of course, that they had got leave from you. "

"Of course, sir. Bless 'em for a set of artful babies! They aren'tlearned discipline yet. You, Rumsey, go and tell your messmates that ifthey try that game again with me they'll stand a fine chance of notgoing ashore for the rest of the voyage. "

"Yes, sir, I'll tell them, sir, " cried the man hurriedly; and heshuffled off as hard as he could to find those who had left him in thelurch. 

"Here, you, Joe Cross, " continued the captain, "you signal to thatFrenchy boatman that he is not wanted. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Cross, hurrying to the side, where he begangesticulating angrily, in spite of which the boatman persisted in comingalongside and in voluble French declaring that he was ordered to comeand would not go back until he was paid. 

Meanwhile a little explanation was going on between the skipper andUncle Paul. 

"Don't want to be bumptious, sir, " said the former, "but there's onlyroom on board a craft for one captain. Those fellows jump at any chanceto get ashore, and when they are there, there's no knowing when you'llget them on board again, besides which, they wouldn't be careful, andFrench and English don't get on very well together after all that's goneby. Here, Cross, tell that jabbering Frenchman if he isn't off, he'llhave to go back with a hole through the bottom of his boat. No, stop. Go and find Mr Craig. Tell him to set those six men something to do. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the sailor, hurrying off. 

"There, it was all my fault, captain, " said Uncle Paul, smiling. "Iwon't offend again. Here, Rodd, my boy, give that poor fellow ashilling for his trouble. "

Rodd hurried to the side, hailed the man, and held out the coin, tellinghim in very bad French what it was for; but the fellow shook his head, held up four fingers, and began shouting "_Quatre_!" so loudly that theskipper heard. 

"Cat, indeed!" he shouted. "Just what I should like to give him. Here, come away, Mr Rodd; he shan't have anything now. "

But Rodd did not obey at once. 

"One or nothing, " he cried to the man, in French. 

"_Quatre! Quatre_!" shouted the man. 

Rodd shook his head and was turning away, but the boatman swarmed up theside, and reaching over the rail, shouted "_Quatre_!" again, till theskipper made so fierce a rush at him that he lowered his feet quicklydown into his boat, catching the shilling that Rodd pitched to him, andthen hurriedly pushing off for the landing-place. 

"Oh, it's all right, Dr Robson, " said the skipper, "only you must leaveall this shore-going to me. I know my lads; you don't. "

Just then Craig, the mate, came up on deck, looking very sour at havingbeen awakened from a comfortable sleep, and did not scruple aboutsetting the delinquents to work upon some very unnecessary task, to thegreat delight of their messmates, who, headed by Joe Cross, gave thempretty freely to understand what their opinion was of the scheme to geta run ashore. 

It was towards evening that, after a hasty meal, partaken of in peace inthe still waters of the harbour, tempted by a few gleams of sunshine, and for Rodd's gratification, Uncle Paul and Rodd were rowed ashore inthe same boat as the skipper, who had business with the English Consulabout his papers, the understanding being that the boat was to go backand meet them at nine o'clock. 

"That's as long as we shall want to stay, Rodd, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Yes, sir, " said the skipper; "and if I were you I'd turn in early for agood night's rest, for I'm thinking we shall have dirty weather againto-morrow, and there's no knowing how long it will last. "

"But it looks so bright to-night, " cried Rodd. 

"Just here, sir, " cried the skipper, "and it may be fine enough to temptme off in the morning; but I don't feel at all sartain, and to-morrownight we may be having another knocking about. "

They separated at the landing-place, and for the next two hours Rodd wasmaking himself acquainted with the principal streets of the old seaport, time going very rapidly and the night coming on. 

It was growing pretty dark, and after making two mistakes as to theirdirection, Rodd declared that he knew the way, and his uncle yielding tohis opinion, the boy led on, till, turning a corner sharply, they almostcame in contact with a couple of French officers walking in the oppositedirection, the one a tall, stern, elderly-looking man, talking in a lowexcited tone to his young companion, whose attention was so much takenup as he deferentially listened to his elder, that he started back toavoid striking against Rodd, who also gave way. 

It was now almost dark, and the next moment the French officers hadpassed on, as Uncle Paul exclaimed--

"Yes, I believe you are right, Pickle. You are. Those are ships'lights hoisted up to the stays. Well, don't you see?"

"Yes, uncle, but--"

The boy said no more, and Uncle Paul laid his hand upon his shoulder. 

"What's the matter?" he cried. "Why don't you speak? Those are thelights in the harbour. "

"Yes--yes. Yes, uncle, I see, " said the boy hastily; "but--er--but--er--"

"Why, what's the matter with you? Don't feel done up?"

"No, uncle, " replied Rodd hurriedly. "I was only puzzled; it seemed sostrange. "

"You mean you seem so strange, " said the doctor, laughing. 

"Yes, uncle, I feel so. "

"Well, come along, and let's make haste aboard. I don't want to keepthe captain waiting. We have lost so much time by missing our way. It's past nine, I'm sure. "

"Yes, uncle, " said the boy, speaking more like himself; "it must be. But I felt so startled in coming suddenly upon those two officers. "

"Why, there was nothing to startle you, my boy. "

"No, uncle, I suppose not; but somehow I felt that I had been close tothat one who nearly ran up against me before, and when he said`_Pardon_'--"

"I didn't hear him say `_Pardon_, '" said Uncle Paul. 

"But he did, uncle, just in a low tone so that I could hardly hear him, and then I felt sure we had met before. "

"Nonsense!" cried Uncle Paul. "Look here, my boy, how much sleep didyou have last night?"

"Sleep, uncle!" cried the boy, in a voice full of surprise. 

"Why, none at all. Who could sleep through that storm?"

"I'll answer for myself, " said the doctor; "I could not. Well, you werecompletely tired out, and are half dreaming now. Come along; let's findthe boat and get on board for a light supper and a good night's rest. "

"Yes, uncle, " said Rodd quietly; "but take care; we are on the wharf. Ican make out the shipping plainly now;" and as he spoke a familiar hailcame out of the darkness, while as they answered the captain strodetowards them. 

"Thought you were lost, gentlemen. Been waiting half-an-hour. Takecare; the boat's down here;" and striding along the top of the harbourwall the skipper led the way to the descending steps, where the boat waswaiting, and they were rowed aboard. 

An hour later Rodd was plunged in the deepest of deep sleeps, butdreaming all the same of the storm and of getting into difficulties withsome one who was constantly running against him and whispering softly, "Pardon!"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

THE SUSPICIOUS CRAFT. 

"Oh, I say, Uncle Paul, isn't it horrible?" cried Rodd the next morning. 

Breakfast was just over, and Captain Chubb had gone on deck, while thewind was howling furiously as if in a rage to find its playthings, sometwo or three hundred vessels of different tonnage, safely moored in theshelter of the harbour, and out of its power to toss here and there andpitch so many helpless ruins to be beaten to pieces upon the shore. 

Down it kept coming right in amongst them, making them check at theirmooring cables and chains, but in vain, for their crews had been toobusy, and the only satisfaction that the tempest could obtain, was tohearken to the miserable dreary groans that were here and there emittedas some of the least fortunate and worst secured ground against eachother. 

"Isn't it horrible, uncle?" shouted Rodd, for the rain just then wasmingled with good-sized hailstones, and was rattling down upon the deckand skylight in a way that half-drowned the lad's voice. 

"Miserable weather, Pickle; but never mind. We must settle down to agood morning's work in the laboratory. "

"Oh no, not yet, uncle; we don't seem to have started. It will only bea makeshift. "

"But we might put things a little more straight, boy. "

"Oh no, uncle; they are too straight now, and I want to go on deck. "

"Bah! It isn't fit. Wait till the weather holds up. "

"Oh, I shall dress up accordingly, uncle. But I say, where does all therain come from? It must be falling in millions of tons everywhere. "

"Ah, you might as well ask me where the wind comes from. Study up somebook on meteorology. "

"Oh yes, I will, uncle; but not yet. "

"Very well; be off. "

Rodd hurried out of the cabin, and five minutes later came back rattlingand crackling, to present himself before his uncle, who thrust up hisspectacles upon his forehead and stared. 

"There, " cried Rodd; "don't think I shall get wet. I wish I'd had itthe other night. It's splendid, uncle, and so stiff that if I like tostoop down a little and spread my arms, I can almost rest in it. I say, don't I look like a dried haddock?"

"Humph! Well, yes, you do look about the same colour, " grumbled thedoctor, for the boy was buttoned up in a glistening oilskin coat of abuff yellow tint; the turned-up collar just revealed the tips of hisears, and he was crowned by a sou'-wester securely tied beneath hischin. 

"I say, this will do, won't it?"

"Yes, you look a beauty!" grunted the doctor; "but there, be off; I wantto write a letter or two. "

Rodd went crackling up the cabin stairs, clump, clump, clump, for he waswearing a heavy pair of fisherman's boots that had been made waterproofby many applications of oil--a pair specially prepared for fishingpurposes and future wading amongst the wonders of coral reef and strand. 

The deck was almost deserted, the only two personages of the schooner'screw being the captain and Joe Cross, both costumed so as to matchexactly with the boy, who now joined them, to begin streaming with waterto the same extent as they. 

They both looked at him in turn, Cross grinning and just showing a glintof his white teeth where the collar of his oilskin joined, while hiscompanion scowled, or seemed to, and emitted a low grumbling sound thatmight have meant welcome or the finding of fault, which of the two Rodddid not grasp, for the skipper turned his back and rolled slowly away asif he were bobbing like a vessel through the flood which covered thedeck and was streaming away from the scuppers. 

As the skipper went right forward and stood by the bowsprit, lookingstraight ahead through the haze formed by the streaming rain, Rodd wasthrown back upon Joe Cross, with whom, almost from the day when the manhad joined, he had begun to grow intimate; and as he went close up tohim, the sailor gave his head a toss to distribute some of the rain thatwas splashing down upon his sou'-wester, and grinning visibly now, hecried--

"Why, Mr Rodd, sir, you've forgot your umbrella. "

"Get out!" cried Rodd good-humouredly. "But I say, Joe, how long isthis rain going to last?"

"Looks as if it means to go on for months, sir, but may leave offto-night. I say, though, that's a splendid fit, sir. You do look fine!Are you comfortable in there?"

Rodd did not answer, for he was trying to pierce the streaming haze andmake out whether the brig was visible. 

For a few moments he could not make it out, but there it was, lookingfaint and strange, about a hundred yards away. 

"That's the brig, isn't it, yonder?" he said at last. 

"Yes, sir, that's she, and they seem to have got her fast now; but shewouldn't hurt us if she broke from her moorings, for the wind's veered apoint or two, and it would take her clear away. "

Rodd remained silent as he stood thinking, he did not know why, unlessit was that the vessel with the tall, dimly-seen tapering spars bore aFrench name, and somehow--again he could not tell why, only that itseemed to him very ridiculous--the shadowy vessel associated itself withthe two French officers he had encountered in the darkness of theprevious night, when he heard one of them after brushing against himmurmur the word "Pardon!" And he found himself thinking that if thevessel had been swept up against the schooner when her anchor wasdragging, it would have been no use for her crew to cry "Pardon!" asthat would not have cured the damage. 

"Well, sir, what do you make of her?" cried the sailor, putting an endto the lad's musings. 

"Can't see much, " said Rodd, "for the rain, but she seems beautifullyrigged. "

"Yes, sir, and she can sail well too--for a brig--but I should set herdown as being too heavily sparred, and likely to be top-heavy. If shewas going along full sail, and was caught in such a squall as we hadyesterday, and laid flat like the schooner, I don't believe she'd liftagain. Anyhow, I shouldn't like to be aboard. "

"No, it wouldn't be pleasant, " said Rodd; "but I say, I can't seeanything of that long gun you talked about. "

"No wonder, sir. You want that there long water-glass, as you calledit--that there one you showed me as you was unpacking it. Don't youremember? Like a big pipe with panes of glass in it as you said youcould stick down into the sea and make out what was on the bottom. Youwant that now. "

The man passed his hand along the brow edge of his sou'-wester to sweepaway the drops, and then took a long look at the deck of the brig. 

"No, sir; can't make it out now; but I see it plainly enough thismorning, covered with a lashed down tarpaulin as if to hide it, and Iknew at once. I can almost tell a big gun by the smell--I mean feel itlike, if it's there. "

"But do you still think she's a privateer?"

"Well, I don't say she is, sir, for that's a thing you can't tell forsartain unless you see a ship's papers; but she is something of thatkind, I should say, and--Ay, ay, sir!--There's the skipper hailed me, sir. I say, Mr Rodd, sir, do mind you don't get wet!"

This was as the man rolled away sailor fashion, and emitting a cracklingwhishing sound as he made for the vessel's bows, where he received someorder from his captain which sent him to the covered-in hatchway of theforecastle, where he slowly disappeared into a kind of haze, half water, half smoke, for several of the water-bound crew had given up the chewingof their tobacco to indulge in pipes. 

But Rodd was in a talkative humour, and made his way to the skipper, saluting him with--

"I say, Captain Chubb, how do you manage to do it?"

"Do what, my lad?"

"Why, say for certain what the weather's going to be. "

There was a low chuckling sound such as might have been emitted by agood-humoured porpoise which had just ended one of its underwatercurves, and thrust its head above the surface to take a good deep breathbefore it turned itself over and dived down again. 

"Second natur', youngster, and that's use. Takes a long time to learn, and when you have larnt your lesson perfect as you think, you find thatyou don't know it a bit. "

"But you did know it, " said Rodd. "You said that the storm would comeon again, when it was beautiful and fine yesterday evening; and here itis. "

"Well, yes, my lad, if you goes on for years trying to hit something youmust get a lucky shot sometimes. "

"Oh yes, but there's something more than that, " said Rodd. "When I havebeen amongst the fishermen in Plymouth, and over in Saltash, I havewondered to find how exact they were about the weather, and how wheneverthey wouldn't take us out fishing they were always right. They seemedto know that bad weather was coming on. "

"Oh, of course, " said the skipper. "Why, my lad, if you got your livingby going out in your boat, don't you think the first thing you would tryto learn would be to make it your living?"

"Why, of course, " cried Rodd. 

"Ah, you don't mean the same as I do. I mean, make it your living andnot your dying. "

"Oh, I see. "

"You wouldn't want, " continued the skipper, "to go out at times thatmight mean having them as you left at home standing on the shore lookingout to sea for a boat as would never come back. "

"No, " said the boy, with something like a sigh. "I know what you mean. Ah, it has been very horrible sometimes, and all those littlechurchyards at the different villages about the coast with that regular`Drowned at sea' over and over and over again. "

"Right, my lad. Things go wrong sometimes; but that's what makessailors and fishermen get to learn what the moon says and the sun andthe clouds, and the bit of haze that gathers sometimes off the coastmeans. Why, if you'd looked out yesterday afternoon when the wind wentdown and the glint of sunshine come out, there was a nasty dirty look inthe sky. You wait a bit and keep your eyes open, and put that and thattogether, and as you grow up you'll find that it isn't so hard as you'dthink to say what the weather is going to be to-morrow. You'll often bewrong, same as I am. "

"Ah! then I shall begin at once, " cried Rodd eagerly, as he lookedsharply round. "Well, it can't go on pelting down like this with hailcoming now and then in showers. Showers come and go. "

"Right!" said the skipper, clapping him on the shoulder. 

"Oh!" cried Rodd sharply. 

"Hullo! Why, you don't mean to say that hurt?"

"Hurt! No, " cried Rodd, shaking his head violently. "You shot a lot ofcold water right up into my ear. "

"Oh, that will soon dry up. Well, what do you say the weather's goingto be?"

"The storm soon over, and a fine day to-morrow. "

"Done?" asked the skipper. 

"Oh yes; but mind, that's only a try. "

"Then it's my turn now, youngster, so here goes. I say we shall haveworse weather to-morrow than we have got to-day. "

"Oh, it can't be!" cried Rodd. 

"Well, " cried the skipper, chuckling, "we shall see who's right. "

"Oh, but I don't want for us to have to stop here in this French port. "

"More don't I, my lad, so we think the same there. You going to stop ondeck?"

"Yes, till dinner-time, " cried Rodd, and just then the haze of rain outseaward opened a little, revealing the brig with its tall spars and webof rigging. 

This somehow set the boy thinking about the escape from accident whenthey came into port, and then of the encounter ashore, and he begantalking. 

"It's no use to go down below. It's so stuffy, and I want to chat. Isay, captain, what do you think of that brig?"

"Very smartly built craft indeed, my lad--one as I should like to sailif I could do as I liked. "

"Do as you liked?" asked Rodd. 

"Yes; alter her rig--make a schooner of her. But as she is she's aspretty a vessel as I ever see--for a brig. Frenchmen don't often turnout a boat like that. "

"What should you think she is?" asked Rodd. "A merchantman?"

"No, my lad; I should say she was something of a dispatch boat, thoughshe aren't a man-of-war. I don't quite make her out. She's got a verysmart crew, and I saw two of her officers go aboard in some sort ofuniform, though it was too dark to quite make it out. "

"But if she's a man-of-war she would carry guns, wouldn't she?" askedRodd. 

"Well, I don't think she's a man-of-war, my lad, " replied the skipper;"but she do carry guns, and one of them's a big swivel I just sawamidships. But men-of-war, merchantmen, and coasters, we're all alikein a storm, and glad to get into shelter. "

"Yes, it is a fine-looking brig. Is she likely to be a privateer?"

"Eh? What do you know about privateers?"

"Oh, not much, " said Rodd. "But going about at Plymouth and talking tothe sailors, of course I used to hear something about them. "

"Well, yes, of course, " said the skipper thoughtfully, as he too sweptthe drops from the front of his sou'-wester, and tried to pierce thefalling rain. "She might be a French privateer out of work, as you maysay, for their game's at an end now that the war's over. Yes, a verysmart craft. "

"But do you think she's here for any particular purpose?"

"Yes, my lad; a very particular purpose. "

"Ah!" cried the boy rather excitedly. "What?"

"To take care of herself and keep in harbour till the weather turnsright. Why? What were you thinking?"

"I was wondering why she came in so close after us, and then anchoredwhere she is. "

"Oh, I can tell you that, " said the skipper, chuckling. "It was becauseshe couldn't help herself. "

"Then you don't think she was watching us?"

"No-o! What should she want to watch us for?"

"Why, to take us as a prize, seeing what a beautiful little schooner itis. "

"Bah! She'd better not try, " said the skipper grimly. "Why, what stuffhave you got in your head, boy? We are not at war with France. "

"No-o, " said Rodd thoughtfully; "but her captain might have taken afancy to the _Maid of Salcombe_, and I've read that privateers are notvery particular when they get a chance. And the war's only just over. "

"No. But then, you see, my lad, even if you were right, that brigwouldn't have a chance. "

"Why, suppose she waited till we had sailed, and followed till shethought it was a good opportunity, and then her captain led his menaboard and took her?"

"Oh, I see, " said the skipper dryly. "Well, my lad, as I say, shewouldn't have a chance. First, because she couldn't catch us, for giveme sea room I could sail right round her. "

"Ah, but suppose it was a calm, and she sent her boats full of men onboard to take us?"

"Well, what then?"

"What then? Why, wouldn't that be very awkward?" asked Rodd. 

"Very, for them, " said the skipper grimly. "What would my boys beabout?"

"Why, they'd be taken prisoners. "

"I should just like to see her try, " said the skipper. "If the boats'crews of that brig were to get a lodgment aboard my craft, how long doyou think it would take our lads to clear them off?"

"Oh, I am sure our crew would be very brave, but I should say thatbrig's got twice as many men as we have. "

"What of that?" said the skipper contemptuously. 

"Well, then, " said Rodd argumentatively, "she's got her guns, and mightsink us. "

"And we've got our guns, and might sink her, " growled the skipper. "Look here, my lad; why did I give my lads gun drill and cutlass andpike drill, while you and the doctor were taking in your tackle and bagsof tricks?"

"Why, to defend the schooner against any savages who might attack uswhen we are off the West Coast or among the islands. "

"Right, my lad. Well, as Pat would say, by the same token couldn't theyjust as well fight a pack of Frenchies as a tribe of niggers? Bah!You're all wrong. It's quite like enough that yon brig may have beenfitted out for a privateer, though I rather think she wouldn't be fastenough. But that game's all over, and we are all going to be at peacenow we have put Bony away like a wild beast in a cage and he can't doanybody any hurt. There, you needn't fidget yourself about that. Allthe same, I don't quite understand why a craft that isn't a man-of-war, but carries a long gun amidships and has officers in uniform aboard, should be taking refuge in this port. I dunno. She looks too smart andclean, but it might mean that she's going to the West Coast, blackbirding. "

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Rodd. "Why, that's what you thought about us, Captain Chubb. "

"So I did; so I did, my lad, " said the skipper good-humouredly. "Yousee, I am like other men--think I am very wise, but I do stupid thingssometimes. Well, I'll be safe this time, and say I don't know what sheis, and I don't much care. But I am pretty sure that she aren't afterus, and I dare say, if the truth's known, she don't think we are afterher. There, squint out yonder to windward. That don't look like fineweather, does it?"

"No; worse than ever!" cried Rodd. 

"That's so, my lad, and you may take this for certain; we shan't sailto-day, and you won't see another vessel put out to sea. Take my wordfor it. "

"That I will, Captain Chubb!" cried the boy earnestly, and the skippernodded his head so quickly that the water flew off in a shower. 

But, as some wag once said, the wisest way is to wait till aftersomething has happened before you begin to prophesy about it. 

Captain Chubb had probably never heard about the wisdom of thisproceeding in foretelling events, for it so happened that in spite ofthe storm increasing in violence for many hours, his words proved to beentirely wrong. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

AN EXCITING TIME. 

About mid-day there was a sudden lull. The wind blew nearly as hard asever, but the clouds were broken up, allowing a few gleams of sunshineto pass through, and soon after the sky seemed to be completely swept;the streaming wharves and streets began to show patches of dry paving, and nearly every vessel near was hung with the men's oilskins, Roddbeing one of the first to shed his awkward garments and come out lookingmore like himself. 

There was such a transformation scene, and all looked so bright in thesunshine, that the boy took the first opportunity to ask the skipperwhat he thought of it now. 

"Just the same as I did before, my lad, " he replied bluntly. "Here, it's only mid-day, and mid-day aren't to-night, and to-night aren'tto-morrow morning. Just you wait. "

"Oh, I'll wait, " said Rodd, "but I think we ought to start off as soonas we can, and get right away to sea. "

"Do you?" said the captain gruffly. "Well, I don't. "

After dinner Uncle Paul had a few words with the skipper, and then shookhis head at his nephew, who was watching them inquiringly. 

"No, my lad, " he said, "it won't do; the captain says there's more badweather coming; but we'll go and have a look round the town if youlike. "

Rodd did like as a matter of course, and with the sun now shiningbrightly as if there were no prospect of more rain for a month, theywere rowed ashore, Rodd noticing as they went that the crew of the brigseemed to be very busy, a couple of boats going to and fro fetchingstores of some kind from the nearest wharf, but what he could not makeout. 

Then came a good ramble through the busy place, where everybody seemedto be taking advantage of the cessation of the storm, and Rodd notedeverything to as great an extent as a hurried visit would allow. 

There was plenty to see, the forts, one each side of the harbour, and acouple more on the higher ground, displaying their grinning embrasuresand guns commanding the harbour and the town, while soldiery in theirrather shabby-looking uniforms could be seen here and there, andsentries turned the visitors back upon each occasion when they wentnear. 

"Rather an ugly place to tackle, Rodd, from the sea, but I suppose ourfellows wouldn't scruple about making an attack if there were any need. But here, I think we had better get back on board. "

"Oh, not yet, uncle. I haven't half seen enough. "

"But I am getting sick of this tiresome wind, " said Uncle Paul. "Onecan't keep on one's hat, and it is just as if these gusts were genuineFrench, and kept on making a rush at us from round the corners of thestreets as if they wanted to blow us into the harbour. "

"Yes, it is rather tiresome, " replied Rodd. "But I should have liked tohave had a look inside one of those batteries. "

"Pooh! What do you want to see them for?"

"Why, just because they are French, uncle. "

"Nonsense! You have seen all ours on the heights of Plymouth, and theyare a deal better-looking than these. We have a good way to walk, solet's go down at once. There, look yonder. "

"What at, uncle?"

"What at? Why, at the clouds gathering there in the wind's eye. Yousee Captain Chubb's right, and we shall have the rain pouring down againbefore long. "

Rodd laughed as if he did not believe it, but making no fartheropposition, they began to descend towards the harbour; but before theywere half-way there the wind had increased to a furious pitch, the seabecame a sheet of foam, and with wonderful rapidity the clouds hadgathered overhead, till a black curtain was sweeping right over, and afew heavy drops of rain began to fall. Then down came a drenchingshower, and they were glad to run for refuge to the nearest shelter, which presented itself in the shape of a great barrack-like buildingthat seemed to be built about a square, and at whose arched entrance acouple of sentries with shouldered muskets were pacing up and down. 

As Uncle Paul and Rodd approached at a trot, with the intention ofgetting under the archway, both sentries stopped short, and one of themheld his weapon across breast high, scowling fiercely, and barred theirway. 

"Here, it's all right, " cried Rodd. "We only want to shelter out of therain for a few minutes;" and he pressed forward. "Come on, uncle. Never mind him!"

"_Halte la_!" cried the sentry. 

But Uncle Paul's hand went to his pocket, and drawing out half-a-crownhe pointed quickly at the falling rain and the archway under which theynow stood, taking out his handkerchief the while, and beginning to brushoff the drops which bedewed his coat. 

The man glanced at the coin, then at his brother sentry, and both lookedinward at the square behind them. The exchange of glances was veryquick, and then the first sentry opened one hand, but kept it very closeto his side, again looking inward to see that he was not observed, before grumbling out--

"_Eh bien! Restez_!" And then as if perfectly unconscious of the bribehe had received, he resumed his slow pace up and down under the shelterof the great archway. 

It was all a matter of minutes, but long enough for the wind and rain tohave gathered force, and while the former raved and shrieked, down camethe latter in a sheet, or rather in a succession of sheets which madethe roadways seem as if full of dancing chess pawns, and the gulliesturn at once into so many furious little torrents tearing down theslopes towards the harbour. 

"Nice, isn't it, uncle?" said Rodd merrily. 

"Nice!" grumbled Uncle Paul. "I don't know what I was thinking about togive way to you in such treacherous weather. Why, it's worse than ever. How are we going to get back to the schooner?"

"Oh, it will soon be over, uncle, and if it isn't we must get to knowwhere the nearest place is from that sentry, and make a rush for it toget some tea, and wait there till the shower is over. "

"Shower!" said Uncle Paul. "It looks to me like a night of storm comingon, and as if we shan't get back to the schooner to-night. "

"Well, it doesn't matter, uncle, " cried the boy coolly. "There's sureto be a good hotel, and Captain Chubb will know why we haven't comeback. As soon as there's a bit of a lull we will make a run for it, andwe shall be able to get a lesson in French. "

"Bah!" said Uncle Paul impatiently. "How the wind comes whistlingthrough this archway! We shall be getting wet even here. "

The two men on guard were evidently of the same opinion, for they turnedto their sentry boxes and began to put on their overcoats, afterstanding their muskets inside. 

But before this was half done, each snatched up his piece again andfaced the entrance, for all at once there was the clattering of hoofs inthe cobbled paved street, and a cavalry officer, followed at a shortdistance by a couple of men, dashed up to the front and turned in underthe archway, drenched with rain, the officer saying something sharply toone of the sentries. 

The man replied by pointing to a doorway at the back of the greatentrance, while the officer swung himself from his horse, threw the reinto one of his men, and then lifting his sabre-tache by the strap he gaveit a swing or two to throw off the water from its dripping sides, andthen opened the great pocket to peer inside as if to see that itscontents were safe. 

The next moment, as if satisfied, he let it fall to the full length ofits slings, gave a stamp or two to shake off the water that dripped fromhim, and then raised his hands to give a twist to the points of his wetmoustache. He scowled fiercely at Rodd the while, and then marchedtowards the doorway with the steel scabbard of his sabre clinking andclanking over the stones. 

"Pretty good opinion of himself, Pickle, " said Uncle Paul quietly. 

"Yes, uncle; but what a pair of trousers--no, I mean long boots--no, Idon't; I mean trousers. --Which are they, uncle?" added the boy, who wasrather tickled by the size and the way in which they were finished offat the bottoms with leather as if they were jack-boots. 

"Wait till he comes out, Pickle, and ask him, " said the doctor dryly. 

"No, thank you, uncle; my French is so bad, " said the boy, with his eyessparkling. "But, my word, they must have been galloping hard to escapethe rain! Look at those poor horses. They are breathed. "

Rodd had hardly spoken when they became fully aware that they had takenrefuge in the entrance to the town barracks, for the notes of a buglerang out, echoing round the inner square of the building, and seeming tobe thrown back in a half-smothered way from wall to wall, while the windand rain raged down more fiercely than ever. 

"Something must be the matter, " said Rodd, with his lips close to hisuncle's ear. 

"Seems like it, boy. That officer must have brought a dispatch. "

The object of the bugle was shown directly, for in spite of the rain theinterior of the barracks began to assume the aspect of some huge wasps'nest that had suddenly been disturbed. 

Soldiers came hurrying out into the rain, hurriedly putting on theirovercoats; the great arched gateway filled up at once with men seekingits shelter, and the sentry who had received his half-crown came toroughly order the English intruders to go elsewhere; but it was onlyoutside militarism, for he said in a low hurried tone in French--

"Run outside to the end of the barracks. Grand cafe. "

"Come along, uncle. Never mind the rain, " cried Rodd, catching at hisuncle's wrist, as he fully grasped the sentry's meaning; and steppingoutside the archway they ran together, or rather, were half carried bythe shrieking wind, for some thirty or forty yards, almost into thedoorway of a large lit-up building, for already it seemed to be almostnight. 

"Never mind the rain, indeed!" grumbled Uncle Paul. "Why, I'm nearlysoaked. Oh, come, we have got into civilised regions, at all events;"for a couple of waiters, seeing their plight, literally pounced uponthem and hurried them through the building into a great kitchen where ahuge fire was burning and the smell of cookery saluted their nostrils. 

The attentions of the waiters of what was evidently one of the principalhotels of the town were very welcome, and a glance teaching them thattheir visitors were people of some standing, they made use of theirnapkins to remove as much of the superabundant moisture as was possible, and then furnished themselves with a fresh relay to operate upon theirbacks. 

"Queer, isn't it, uncle? I am quite dry in front. My word, how therain did come down!"

"Messieurs will dine here?" said one of the waiters smilingly. 

"_Oh, oui, pour certain_" replied Uncle Paul. "If you don't mind, Pickle. "

"Mind, uncle? Oh, yes, of course. I am horribly hungry. "

"You always are, my boy. Well, we must make the best of a badbusiness, " continued the doctor, as, nodding to the waiter, he moved alittle closer to the fire and turned his back, an example followed byRodd. 

"It makes a dreadful time, monsieur, " said the smiling waiter. "Will hechoose, or trust his servant to prepare a dinner upon the field of whichthe English milor' will be proud?"

"You speak capital English, " said the doctor, rather sarcastically. 

"I have been many times in public in London. "

"Ah, that's right. Then give us a snug little dinner while we dryourselves. But what's the meaning of all that upset at the barracksnext door?"

"It is not quite that I know, sir, " said the man eagerly; "but twoofficers came in upon the instant to put their cloaks where they shouldnot water themselves so much, and I hear them say, a dispatch comequickly for monsieur the Governor to seize upon a ship. Oh, faith of aman! Hark at that!"

For there was a sudden crash and an echoing roar, while some of theutensils in the great kitchen clattered together, and a piece ofearthenware fell from a shelf upon the stone floor, to be shivered toatoms. 

"_Tonnerre, eh_?" said the doctor. 

"_Non, non, monsieur_" cried the man, relapsing into his native tonguefor a moment. "It is what you English gentlemen call a great gun fromthe fort; and look, look! The poor _cuisiniere_ much alarm, as you callit. "

For just then, as if catching the contagion from the shrieking of thestorm, one of the cook-maids threw herself back into a chair and beganto scream. 

It was a busy scene for a few minutes while the frightened hystericalwoman was hurried out, while with the storm seeming to increase inviolence, and amid the trampling of armed men outside, who were hurryingfrom the barracks, the two English visitors gradually picked up scrapsof information which explained the excitement that in spite of the stormwas going on outside. 

"Messieurs would like to see, " said the friendly waiter. "They willcome up-stairs to the long _salle_ whose windows give upon the harbour. "

"But what's the matter?" cried Rodd. "Is there a wreck?"

"A wreck, sare?" said the waiter, shaking his head. "No, I know notwreck. "

"Has a ship come ashore and is breaking up?"

"Ha, ha! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You would say _naufrage. Non, non, non_! It is a sheep in the harbour; a foreign spy. They say ithas come to set fire to the town. "

"Then they have chosen a very bad night for it, " said Uncle Paul, laughing. 

"Monsieur is right. Nosing would burn. But the enemies of la France, my great country, not stop to think of zat. "

"Oh, but that must be a rumour, Rodd, " said Uncle Paul uneasily. "Why, surely they are not going to fancy that our English schooner is a spyand an enemy!"

The waiter's ears were sharp, and he cried at once--

"English! Oh non, monsieur. You are from the little two-mast. It isnot you. It is some enemy of the King whose sheep is in the harbour, and great dispatches have come to the Governor that she is to be seized. Ah, there again, monsieur! Anozzer gun from the fort. "

It was plain enough to hear, for the windows of the big badly-lit roominto which the man had conducted them clattered in their frames, whilethe dull, heavy report was preceded by a vivid flash as of lightning. 

"Ha, ha! You see. The sheep will not get away, for at the forts theyare alert and will sink her if she try. "

"Oh, but no vessel could try to put out in a storm like this, Rodd, "said Uncle Paul. 

"No, sare, " continued the waiter excitedly; "the boats will go out withthe soldiers and take the sheep. "

"She is a man-of-war, I suppose?"

"Yes, sare. Not very big, but an enemy; but if she fight they willshoot from all the forts and sink her. "

"But how do you know all this?" said Rodd. 

"Many soldiers, horsemen, came galloping up to bring dispatches to theGovernor. There, sare; you will look from the window, " continued theman, using a clean serviette that he took from under his arm to rub thesteamy window-panes, for the cold blast of the storm had caused the warmair inside to blur the glass with a thick deposit of vapour. "There, sare, " continued the man; "zat is ze sheep. "

"Oh, it's too thick to see for the rain. "

"Yes, sare; but you see out zare in ze arbour ze two lights. "

"Nonsense man!" cried Uncle Paul, half angrily. "That is the Englishschooner--ours. "

"Oh, non, non, non, monsieur! Away to ze _gauche_--ze left hand. Zesheep with two high, tall mast, that we all see here when she come in zestorm yesterday. We all here with ze officer of ze regiment see youcome in through ze storm, and ze enemy sheep, a stranger, come after, and ze officer say she will run you down and sink you in ze harbour!"

"Oh, that one!" cried Rodd excitedly. 

"Ah, I see, monsieur knows. You see her lights swing in the wind--two;"and the man held up a couple of fingers. 

"Yes, I see where you mean, " cried Rodd; "but she has only one light. "

"Ah, ha! Monsieur is right. Zare is only one. Ze vind storm has blowout ze uzzer. Look, now zare is no light at all. Ze sheep put im out. "

The violence of the rain was now abating, but the wind beat against andshook the window-panes and shrieked as it rushed by. It was evening, and a few minutes before it had been dark as night, but with thecessation of the rain the heavy forms and light rigging of the manyvessels gradually became more and more visible, while fresh lights beganto come into view, but in every case not moving and swinging about likethose in the rigging of the safely moored ships, but gliding about fromvarious directions as if they were in the sterns of boats that had putoff from the harbour side. 

"Messieurs see?" said the waiter excitedly. "Two boats come now fromthe fort on ze uzzer side. Look, look! Ze lights shine on ze soldiers'bayonet. They go to take ze sheep. "

As the man was speaking the brig that had previously taken up so much ofRodd's attention stood out more clearly. Her riding lights were indeedgone, but there was a peculiar misty look forward, and it was now Rodd'sturn to speak excitedly about what he saw. 

"Why, uncle, " he cried, "she's moving! They've slipped their cable andhoisted the jib!"

"Nonsense, boy! Not in a storm like this. "

"I don't care, uncle; she has. Look; you can see her gliding along. "

"Impossible!"

"It isn't, uncle. Look, you can see them plainly now; two boats full ofmen, and they are rowing hard, but getting no nearer to the brig. Here, I want to see; let's get right down to the harbour. "

"What, to get wet again?" cried Uncle Paul. 

"It doesn't rain now a drop. There's nothing but wind; and look, look;the people are running down now in crowds, and there goes a company ofsoldiers at the double. Oh, there's going to be something veryexciting, uncle, and we must see. "

"But the dinner, boy, the dinner! What is this to us?"

"Dinner, uncle!" cried the lad indignantly. "Who's going to stop fordinner when there are boats out yonder full of men going to board andtake a ship?"

"Humph! Well, " grunted Uncle Paul, "I suppose it would be ratherexciting, and we shall be able to see; but I don't know, though. There'll be firing, and who knows which way the bullets will fly?"

"Oh, they; won't hit us, uncle. Come on. "

Uncle Paul was rapidly growing as excited as his nephew, while thewaiter, if it were possible, was as full of eagerness as both together, and forgetting all his duties and the dinner that he had ordered to beprepared, he cried--

"Ze rain is ovare; you come vith me. I take you out ze back way anddown ze little rue which take us to the quay. "

That was enough for Rodd, and the next minute they were following thewaiter down the big staircase through the great kitchen once more, whichwas now quite deserted, and out into a walled yard to a back gateway, beyond which, mingling with the roaring of the wind, they could hear thetrampling of many feet. 

"Zis way; zis way!" the bare-headed waiter kept crying, as he put hisserviette to quite a new use, battling with the wind as he folded itdiagonally and then turned it into a cover for his head by tying thecorners under his chin. 

"Here, I say, " cried Rodd, as the man kept on at a trot; "I want to getto the harbour. "

"_Oui_, _oui_; zis way!" panted their guide, who nearly put the visitorsout of patience by turning off two or three times at right angles andapparently taking them quite away from where they wished to go. "Zisway! Zis way!" he kept on crying, till at last the trio were alone, others who had been hurrying onward having taken different directions. 

Bang went another gun from the fort, a report which seemed to be sentback instantly from the harbour walls, apparently close at hand. 

"Yes, zis way; zis way!" shouted the man. "I show you before zey sinkze sheep. "

And now he suddenly turned into a narrow alley formed by two toweringwarehouses so close together that there was not room for two people towalk comfortably abreast; but "Zis way, zis way, " shouted the guide, "and you shall be zere upon ze field--_sur le champ, sur le champ_. Ahha!" he cried directly after, as he suddenly issued from out of thedarkness of the alley into the comparative light of a narrow wharfencumbered with casks, just beyond which was the dripping stone edge ofthe great harbour, and below them boats, barges, and lighters swingingfrom the great rusty iron rings and mooring posts of the quay. 

"Vat you say to dat?" cried the waiter, turning round to face hiscompanions, beginning loudly and ending in a choking whisper, for he hadmet a gust of wind face to face which stopped him for the moment fromtaking his breath and forced him to turn his back and make a snatch atthe corner of one of the warehouses. "Faith of a good man!" he panted. "The vind blow me inside out! Aha! What did I say?"

"Capital!" panted Rodd, almost as breathlessly as the waiter, at whomupon any other occasion he would have burst out into a roar of laughter, so grotesque was his appearance with the white napkin tied under hischin. "Oh, this is a splendid place!"

"Here, you look out, Pickle, " cried Uncle Paul. "Lay hold of something, or we shall be blown right off. "

"All right, uncle. Why, if one of those gusts sent us into the harbourwe should be drowned. "

"Come a little farther this way, then, and if the wind is too much forus, why we shall only go down into this barge. "

At that moment, as they looked across and downward towards the mouth ofthe harbour, there were the flashes of bright light to illumine thegloom of the evening, and the reports of a ragged volley of musketrycoming from one of the two boats which they could now make out beingrowed hard after the brig, as it glided rapidly along in the directionwhere the watchers now stood. 

Then for a short space it passed out of sight behind a group of fourvessels which were safely moored. Then it was out again, and as thelookers-on excitedly watched, they made out dimly that the vesselanswered her helm readily and was gliding round in a tack for the otherside of the harbour, while the two boats in pursuit altered theirdirection, the men rowing with all their might, as if to cut the brigoff during her next tack. 

There was another ragged volley, this time from the second boat; but ifthey were firing to bring down the steersman, it was in vain, for thebrig sailed swiftly on, gaining a little way, as she made for the mouthof the harbour. 

This was far distant yet, and her chances of reaching it even in theshelter of the harbour, with such a gale blowing, were almost nil. 

"She'll do it, though, uncle, " shouted Rodd, with his lips close toUncle Paul's ear. 

"Yes, my boy, I expect she will, " was the reply; "but they've got somedaring people on board, and I shouldn't like to be the man at thewheel. "

"Ah, why don't they shoot? Why don't they shoot?" cried the waiter. "She is an enemy, and--"

The rest of his speech was unheard, for another flash cut the darkness, followed by the thud of a big gun, the shot coming as it were instantlyupon the waiter's question; but it had no effect upon the brig, whichcame nearer and nearer to the pier-like wharves of the harbour, glidedround again with the two stay-sails rilling upon the other tack, andthen went off once more. 

"She'll get away, uncle, " cried Rodd excitedly, "and I don't know whatthey are, but one can't help admiring such a brave deed. "

There was another report, this time from quite another direction. 

"That must be from the fort up behind the town, Rodd, " cried Uncle Paul. "It's too thick to see any splash, but they must be in earnest now, andwill not be firing blank charges. It looks as if they mean to sink herif she doesn't stop. "

"They've got to hit her first, uncle, " cried Rodd excitedly. "Oh, Ican't help it, uncle, " he continued, with his lips close to his uncle'sear so that the waiter should not catch his words, "but I do hope theywon't. "

"Well, my boy, I can't help feeling the same, though she's neither enemynor friend of ours, and we don't know what it all means; for I don'tsuppose, " he said, with a half-laugh, "that she has got NapoleonBonaparte on board. "

Uncle Paul had not taken his nephew's precaution, and as a heavy gustwas just dying out, the excited waiter caught a part of his speech. 

"Ha, ha!" he cried. "You sink so? You say le Petit Caporal is onboard?"

"No, no, " cried Uncle Paul; "I didn't say so. "

"No, sare; you think so, and zat is it. He has escape himself from zeplace where you English shot him up safe, and he come in zat sheep toburn down ze town. But ah-h-h, again they will sink him. Faith of aman, no!" he cried angrily, for there was a shot from another battery, this time nearer the harbour mouth. "They cannot shoot straight. "

For onward glided the brig, making tack after tack, and zigzagging herway through the narrow entrance of the harbour, at times partlysheltered by the great pier to windward, then as she glided farther outcareening over in spite of the small amount of reefed sail she carried, but all the while so well under control that she kept on gaining andleaving the two boats farther and farther behind. 

"Oh, if it were only lighter!" cried Rodd, stamping his foot withvexation. "Why, she'll soon be out of sight. "

"Before she gets much farther, " said Uncle Paul gravely, "she'll begetting within the light cast by one or other of the harbour lights, andthat will be one of her critical times. "

"Why critical, uncle?" cried the boy earnestly. "Because the men in thefort will have a better chance of hitting her, I should say. "

"Oh, I hope they won't, " said Rodd beneath his breath. "Why, it wouldbe horrible, uncle, " he half whispered, with his lips close to hisuncle's face. "She must have a brave captain to dare all this. "

"A very brave captain, " said Uncle Paul earnestly. "But you thinkshe'll get away, uncle?"

"No, Rodney, " said the doctor, laying his hand with a firm grip upon hisnephew's shoulder. "She may pass through the harbour mouth withoutbeing hit by the gunners, for it would require a clever marksman to hitso swiftly moving an object, rising and falling as the brig does nowthat she is getting into the disturbed water near the mouth. "

"But suppose she passes through untouched, uncle? What then?"

"What then, boy? She will be out of the shelter given by the end of thejetty. It's too dim now to see, but once or twice I had just a glimpseof the waves washing over the harbour light, and there must be aterrific sea out there. Why, you can hear it plainly even here. "

"No, uncle; that's the wind. "

"And waves, my boy. Why, trying to sail out there in the teeth of sucha gale as this, it will be almost impossible for her to escape. Itseems to me to be an act of madness to attempt such an escapade, andcleverly as the brig is handled I think it is doubtful whether she willever clear the mouth. But if she does she will catch the full force ofthe storm and--"

"And what, uncle?"

"Be carried away yonder to the east somewhere and cast ashore. "

"Oh-h!" sighed Rodd; and it was almost a groan. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

ESCAPE. 

Three more shots were fired at intervals, as the brig kept making shorttack after tack, and with each report the flash appeared to be brighter, indicative of the increasing darkness, while now a pale lambent lightseemed to be dawning at times and making the shape of the brig stand outmore clearly at intervals, but only to fade away again quickly, whilethere were moments when the vessel quite disappeared. 

"Why is that, uncle?" asked Rodd quickly, as he looked vainly now insearch of the flying craft. "Ah, there she is again! I began to thinkshe had gone down. Why is she seen so dimly sometimes?"

"Hidden by the flying spray, I think, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Oh yes, of course, " cried the boy. "Ah, there she is, quite clear now, and still going on nearer and nearer to the harbour mouth. No--now it'sgetting darker than ever. --There, now she's coming into sight againquite clearly. "

"Yes, she's getting out where the harbour lights are full upon her, "said Uncle Paul. 

As he spoke there were two more reports, almost simultaneous, and Roddfelt a peculiar sense of pain attacking him, for at one moment when thetwo guns flashed, the brig could be plainly seen; the next, as the boystrained his eyes, all was black darkness, and he caught at his uncle'sarm with his hands trembling and an intense longing upon him to speak;but no words would come. 

It seemed like some minutes before a word was uttered, and then it wasthe doctor who spoke. 

"I haven't caught sight of the boats lately, " he said. "It is evidentthat they have given up the chase. "

"Oh, uncle, uncle, " cried Rodd, "I was not thinking about them, but ofthose poor fellows in the brig. One of those last shots must have hit, and they have gone down. "

"Oh no, " cried Uncle Paul; "I saw her once again. Just now. --Yes, thereshe is, tossing wildly in the waves. She must be beyond the mouth ofthe harbour, and--"

"Yes, I see her! I see her!" cried Rodd wildly. "No, she's gone again;but she was pitching and tossing horribly. "

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul. "It's going to be hard work for them now, forthe waves out there must be tremendous. Well, my boy, it was a daringattempt, and whoever they are let's hope they may escape, but--"

Uncle Paul was silent, and once more the boy uttered a low groan. 

Then no one spoke, but all stood straining their eyes to try and catchsight again of the vessel, which had seemed to be pitching wildly in thedarkness; but they looked in vain, for all now seemed to be rapidlygrowing black. 

The boy tried to speak, but no words would come, and even the waiter wassilent, as he stood trying to catch sight of the vessel once more; butthe darkness now was rapidly increasing, and though from time to timethey could make out the faint outline of the lights, all seemed tobecome more dense and obscure, and the boy started violently as theirguide suddenly exclaimed--

"It is no use now, sare. I sink she must have gone down. "

Silence; but as Uncle Paul pressed his nephew's arm Rodd followed himslowly without a word, while the waiter shook his head and suggestedthat they should return to the _cafe_. 

The boy gave one glance before stirring, and then uttered a sigh. 

"Come, my boy, " said his uncle; "perhaps there is no occasion todespair. It is quite evident that the captain of the brig knows what heis about, and may escape. "

Rodd followed his uncle without a word, the waiter going on before themto show the devious ways along by the harbour and the old town. 

As they drew near the yard Rodd felt a sense of hesitation. "I think Iwould rather get back on board the schooner, uncle, " he said. 

"Oh, but we couldn't do that, my boy, " cried Uncle Paul. "I gave anorder for dinner to be prepared. "

"Yes, uncle, but I don't feel as if I could eat anything now. "

"Why?"

"It seemed so horrible watching that vessel trying to escape underfire. "

"It was evidently not hit, my boy. "

"But it was going right out into the face of this storm, and even youthought she'd be driven ashore. "

"Yes; perhaps I have been thinking the worst; but the brig's captain isevidently a clever sailor and knows what he's about. It is ratherjumping at conclusions to consider that he will let his vessel bewrecked. Yes, it was nervous work watching a vessel like that; butthere, we must hope for the best, and possibly there is no reason todespond. Whoever the brig belonged to had good reason for getting away, and they have succeeded in that. There, come along; let's have ourdinner, and think no more about it. But hallo! What's the matterhere?"

Uncle Paul's remark was caused by a loud angry voice scolding in Frenchat the waiter who had just led them to the yard door, and it was evidentthat the man was in difficulties for absenting himself from his dutiesafter giving the order that the visitors' dinner should be prepared. 

"But I have been in attendance upon the gentlemen, " he protested, withnot much truth in his utterance. "I had to take them down to the sideof the harbour to see the firing at the spy. Is everything ready?Because the gentlemen are anxious for their dinner. "

Uncle Paul nudged his nephew, glad of the opportunity to change thebearing of the boy's thoughts, and shortly after the good meal preparedin the snug, warm room diverted Rodd's mind from the roaring of thestorm, which was still beating round the great hotel; and they had justfinished and were talking about going outside to see what the weatherwas like, when a very familiar gruff voice saluted their ears, as thewaiter showed Captain Chubb into the room. 

"Oh, here you are, " he grunted. "Come ashore to look after you. 'Fraidyou were lost. "

"We are very glad to see you, " said Uncle Paul. "Sit down. We thoughtit was not safe to try and get aboard. "

"Well, it aren't very, " said the skipper; "but we come in the boat tomake sure you weren't both drowned, and if you'll risk it I think I canget you round by keeping under the lee of two or three vessels. "

"What do you say, Rodd?" asked Uncle Paul. "Shall we risk it?"

"Oh, I don't think that there'll be much risk, uncle, if Captain Chubbconsiders it safe. I don't mind going with him. "

The skipper gave the boy a nod and looked pleased; then nodding at UnclePaul he said quietly--

"As we were ashore I told the men to get a few stores down to the boat, and that I'd meet them here. I dare say Joe Cross will be an hour, andby that time it will have lulled a bit, or else be a deal worse, andwe'll see. "

It took very little persuasion to make the skipper partake of some ofthe hotel fare, and naturally enough the conversation turned upon theincident that had lately taken place. 

"Yes, " said Captain Chubb, "the skipper of that craft has got some stuffin him, and he knew how to navigate his boat. I could have done it ifI'd been obliged, but I should have wanted a deal of shoving before Ihoisted sail. Storm was bad enough, and no room to tack; but what Ishouldn't have liked was being fired at by two boats' crews and three orfour forts. I know what being fired at is, young squire, " continued thecaptain, giving Rodd a very peculiar look out of one eye, after closingthe other, "and you may take my word for it it aren't nice. "

"What, have you been out in a man-of-war?" asked Rodd eagerly. 

"Nay, my lad, but several of our fellows have, and if you ask them, theycan tell you what it's like too. "

"Then you never were fired at?" said Rodd questioningly. 

"Who says I warn't? I tell you I was, though it wasn't by forts. Itwas a Revenue cutter got trying to hit me. "

"What, smuggling?" cried Rodd. 

"Nay! Smuggling, indeed! It was her skipper--Lieutenant somebody oranother--I forget his name--say Smith. He made a blunder, same as I didin taking you and the doctor here for slavers. "

"Oh!" cried Rodd, laughing. 

"Ah, it warn't anything to laugh at, my lad, with round shot cominga-splashing right across your bows. Certainly it was in a fog, and mycraft didn't get hit, but more than once the balls came pretty near, andI remember thinking whether if the cutter did sink us we should all beable to swim ashore, and I come to the conclusion that we couldn't inour boots, for it was about nine miles. "

"I should think not, " replied Rodd dryly. "But, Captain Chubb--aboutthat brig; do you think they'd get right away to sea?"

"I shouldn't think they'd try to, my lad. "

"They seemed to be trying to. "

"Not they. Her skipper, as soon as he got outside the harbour, wouldtry to creep under the lee of the high ground somewhere out west. Whether he'd do it or not is quite another thing. Let's hope he did, for I don't care about hearing that good men and true have been drownedin a storm, even if they are French. I am not like your uncle here. "

"Come, I say, Captain Chubb, " cried the doctor indignantly, "how dareyou say that! Surely a thinking man can have a feeling of antipathyagainst Napoleon Bonaparte and all his works without being accused ofliking to see brave Frenchmen drowned. "

"Beg pardon, sir. I suppose you are right, " granted the skipper; "but Ishould like to hear that that there smart brig got safe away. "

"Well, I hope so too, " said Uncle Paul shortly, and with a look in hiscountenance that made Rodd think about some words a friend had once saidabout a red rag to a bull. "But I suppose you don't believe that vesselhad some emissaries of Napoleon on board, come to set fire to the portof Havre?"

"Nay, " said the skipper, drawing out the negative very deliberately. "Don't see any likelihood of their doing such a thing. What for?Suppose they did get it alight, that wouldn't bring Bony back. Nay, hisgame's about up now, and there will be quiet again over here for a bit, though I wouldn't venture to say for how long. Keeping quiet isn't in aFrenchman's nature. "

"But there was evidently something very special about the vessel, orelse the French Government wouldn't have sent orders for her to beseized. "

"French Government did?"

"Yes, I believe so, " replied Uncle Paul. "We saw the officer and hismen come riding in with the dispatch. "

"Nay. Order for the Revenue to put men on board. "

"Oh no, " replied Uncle Paul. "From what we saw and what we heard, itwas something much more important than that. Why, hang it, captain, they wouldn't have turned out the garrison and manned all the forts tostop the progress of a smuggler, would they?"

"We wouldn't at Plymouth, sir; but there's no knowing what Frenchmenwill do. But there, I give in. It must have been something strongerthan that, and I am beginning to think that squire here's right, andthat yon vessel, the--the--the--"

"_Jeanne d'Arc_" cried Rodd. 

"Right, " snorted the skipper. "She was something of a privateer, onmischief bent, and I shouldn't be a bit surprised if we was to hearsomething more about her. I don't know, though; if the storm blowsitself out before morning we shan't lie long here in harbour, but makeaway south as fast as I can make the schooner bowl along. "

"Then you think the weather will hold up soon?" said Rodd. 

"Nay, I am not going to think, squire; I'll wait until I can be sure. Anyhow, I won't fill my pipe till we get aboard. "

"Then you mean to try soon?" cried Rodd eagerly. 

"Why not?" replied the skipper gruffly. "Look yonder; what do you sayto that?"

"That" was the presence of Joe Cross, who was being ushered into thedining-saloon by the waiter, to announce that the wind had sunk a bitand only came in squalls, between two of which he thought he couldeasily run the boat alongside of the schooner. 

And he did--while the next morning broke almost absolutely calm. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

A QUESTION OF FEAR. 

It was as if all the bad weather had been left behind, for after alittle snatch or two, as Joe Cross called them, the cruise down southhad been glorious. 

The bluff, good-humoured sailor explained to Rodd what he meant by asnatch, something after this fashion. 

"You see, sir, after we started from Havre the weather seemed to be abit sorry for itself for being so dirty, and you know how we bowledalong down south till the wind got into a tantrum again--got out of bedthe wrong way, as you may say, and then everything was wrong. We weregetting into the Bay, you see, where it comes quite natural to lay allthat day. In the Bay of Biscay O! Then Nature got all out of sortsagain. It seemed as if she was waxy to let us have it so comfortable, and made a snatch to drag us back again. But the old man was one toomany for her, and kept on for them two bad days, when we sailed out ofher reach and everything was fine. "

"Yes, Joe, it was fine. All that coast of Spain and Portugal waslovely. "

"Yes, sir, and you got grumbling 'cause your uncle wouldn't give ordersfor us to let go the anchor for you to go fishing. "

"Well, see how grand it was, and how calm the sea used to get of anevening before we put in to Gibraltar. "

"And then you weren't half satisfied, sir. You'll excuse me, Mr Rodd, sir, but you do make me laugh;" and to the boy's great annoyance the manhalf turned from him, leaned over the taffrail, laughed till his sidesshook, and then pulling himself up suddenly wiped his eyes. "I am verysorry, sir, " he said. 

"Doesn't seem like it, " cried Rodd warmly, as he made as if to go away. 

It was one evening when the calm sea as it heaved seemed in places toglint forth all the glorious colours of a beautiful pearl shell, and theeast wind was of a different complexion to that familiar to an Englishlad, for it was soft, balmy and sweet, suggestive of its having beenblowing gently for miles and miles over beds of flowers. 

"Oh, don't go away in a tiff, Mr Rodd, sir. It was only me, and youknow what I am. I didn't mean no offence. "

"Well, it was offensive, " said Rodd. "How would you like to be laughedat?"

"Me, sir?" cried the man merrily. "Me who has been knocking about thesea nearly all my life, first in a west-country fishing-boat, and thenin a King's ship, and been in action! Like being laughed at! Why, bless your heart, sir, it suits me down to the deck. I like it. Dealbetter than having the old man dropping on to me about something beingwrong aloft. "

"Well, I don't see that there was anything to laugh at, " cried Rodd, softening down a little, for somehow the liking he had felt for thesturdy-looking sailor ever since he had come on board had gone onincreasing, and Rodd affected Joe's society more than that of any one inthe ship. At least he said so to Uncle Paul, who shook his head andwith a grim smile joined issue. 

"No, Pickle, " he cried, "I won't have that. You seem to make betterfriends with the cook than with anybody. "

"Oh, uncle, " replied the boy, "you always do tease me about myappetite. "

"Never mind, Pickle, " said Uncle Paul good-humouredly. "Go on eating, and grow. "

But to return to the conversation by the taffrail. 

"No, sir, " said Joe Cross, "of course you don't, sir. It'd be contrairyto nature if you did. We chaps can't see ourselves. There's the oldBun. He's been offended over and over again because people told him hewas so fat. He can't see it, sir. "

"Oh, he must, " cried Rodd, laughing. 

"There aren't no must in it, sir. He can't. He might find it outperhaps if he tried to get into a pair of boy's trousers--yours, forinstance; but then that aren't likely, because you won't give him thechance, and what's more, he wouldn't want to. You try him some dayabout being too fat, and you see if he don't stare at you. "

"He will, Joe, when I'm so rude to him. But come now, you areshuffling. Why is it that you laugh at me?"

"Well, sir, because I like you, for one thing, and another is becauseyou are such an unreasonable chap. "

"I? Unreasonable?" cried Rodd hotly. "That I'm sure I'm not!"

"Why, sir, wasn't you put out because your uncle and the old manwouldn't sail right into the Mediterranean Sea?"

"Well, there was nothing unreasonable in that. I am sure it would havebeen very interesting. "

"Not it, sir. I've been there over and over again, and it always seemedto me just like any other sea, only a bit rougher sometimes, and itaren't got hardly any tide. You wait till we get a little further on, and you'll find plenty to make you open you eyes wider than ever youopened them before. I don't know a finer place for seeing wonders ofthe deep than along where we are going, as you say we are to, rightalong the West Coast of Afriky. Why, you might begin fishing anddredging directly after we had put in at Mogador, where the fish arewonderful, and you can't drop in a line without hauling something out. "

"That's good, " cried Rodd eagerly; "but I am afraid uncle won't let ushave much time for ordinary fishing. He will be more on the look-outfor curiosities. "

"Ah, well, there's plenty of them too, sir--all sorts, and the fartheryou gets into warmer water the more there are. "

"What sort?" asked Rodd. 

"All sorts, and the nearer you are to land the more you get. Then Isuppose some time we shall come upon that there Sargassey Sea. "

"Where's that?" asked Rodd. 

"Right away down south, sir. Let's see, if I remember right we falls inwith that soon after you pass the islands. "

"What islands?"

"Let's see; I ought to know, sir. The fust that comes near Europe isthe Azores; then farther south there's that there island where all thesick people goes, Madeiry; then there's the Canaries, where the birdscome from; only they aren't all yaller like people keeps in their cages. Most I seed there was green, and put me in mind of them little chaps aswe have at home with the yaller heads--you know, sir; them as cries, `Alittle bit of bread and no cheese. ' And you see them up country, a-twittering among the hedges. "

"Yes, I know, " said Rodd sharply; "but what about the Sargassey Sea?"

"Ah! I'm thinking it was after that we come to that sea, only I aren'tquite sure, sir. But if I recollect right, they say it shifts aboutaccording to what sort of weather we have. "

"Well, so does every sea, " cried Rodd, "when the waves are runninghigh. "

"Ah, but they don't run high here, sir. You see, the Sargassey Seaaren't like other seas, and I suppose it's only part of the Atlanticafter all. It's all smooth like because as far as you can see it's alllike one great bed of floating seaweed, so thick that you can hardlysail through it at times, and if you go out into it in a boat it's asmuch as you can do to dip your oars. "

"Have you been out amongst it then?" asked Rodd. 

"Yes, sir, more'n once. It was when I was in the _Prince George_ offthe West Coast of Africa, and we had got a surgeon on board there, andhim and our second lieutenant had both got it badly. "

"What, West African fever?" cried Rodd. 

"No, no, sir; same as your uncle's got--looking after strange things aslives in the sea. I was one of the crew of the second cutter then, andin the beautiful calm weather we used to take the doctor and the secondluff out in this Sargassey Sea, which used to look sometimes as if wewere floating about in green fields. "

"Oh, you mean the Sargasso Sea!" cried Rodd. "Nay, I don't, sir; Imeans the Sargassey Sea. "

"Well, that's the same thing, only you spell it differently, " criedRodd. 

"Oh no, sir; that I don't. That's a thing as I never pretended to do. I can take my spell at the pump or at any other job; but what you callspelling was never in my way. "

"But you mean the same thing, " cried Rodd. "It isn't Sar-gass-ey; it'sSar-gass-o. "

"Ho! Sar-gass-ho, is it, sir?"

"Yes, of course. "

"All right, sir; I'm willing. But my one was all alive with littlethings, little fish and slugs and snails of all kinds of rum sorts; andour second luff used to make us haul in great lengths of the seaweed aswas floating about, and then help him to pick 'em out into bottles tillthey were quite full, and looking just as if they was pickles same asyou see in the grocers' shops in Plymouth town. "

"Well, the same as you saw uncle and me do that day during the calm?"

"Yes, sir, just like that, only yours as you did were small shop andours was like big warehouse, though I don't think our doctor did muchgood with them, because so many of them used to go bad, and our cook andhis mate used to have to throw no end away and wash the bottles. "

"Ah, ours won't go bad, " said Rodd confidently. "My uncle will preservethem differently to that. "

"Oh, yes, I suppose so, sir. You see, we've all come out this timeready for the job; our officers on the _Prince George_ only did theirbit just for a day or two's holiday like, and our job was to look afterthe mounseers' cruisers, not to catch tittlebats and winkles, and itwasn't so very long after that we was at it hammer and tongs with a bigFrench frigate, making work for the doctor of a precious different kind, and for our ship's carpenters too. Different sort of nat'ral historythat was, sir, I can tell you, for we lost nineteen of our men and had alot wounded; but we took the frigate, and carried her safe intoPortsmouth Harbour. "

"Ah!" cried Rodd softly, as his eyes flashed at the thoughts of thedeeds of naval daring carried out by our men-of-war. "I wish I'd beenthere!"

"You do, sir?" said Joe. "Mean it?"

"Mean it? Of course! There, don't look at me like that. I wasn'tthinking of being a man, but a reefer--one of those middies that we usedto see at Plymouth. "

"Ah, it's all very fine, sir, " said Joe, shaking his head, "and itsounds very nice about firing broadsides and then getting orders toboard when the two big men-of-war get the grappling-irons on board andyou have to follow your officers, scrambling with your cutlass in yourhand out of the chains from your ship into the enemy's; and all the timethere's the roaring of the guns and the popping away of the marines upin the tops, and the men cheering as your officers lead them on. It's avery different thing, sir, to what you think, and so I can tell you. "

"Why, Joe, " cried Rodd, almost maliciously, "you talk as if you feltafraid!"

"Afraid, sir?" said the man, quietly and thoughtfully. "No, sir. No, sir; I never felt afraid, and I never knowed one of my messmates as saidhe was. "

"Oh no, of course they wouldn't say so, " cried Rodd, laughing. 

"No, sir, that's right. But I aren't bragging, sir. I've been inseveral engagements like that, and my messmates always seemed to feeljust as I did. You see, they'd got it to do, sir, and we always feltthat it was only mounseers that we'd got to beat and captur' their ship;and then as soon as we had begun, whether we was crews of guns, strippedand firing away, or answering the orders to board, why, then we neverhad time to feel afraid. "

"What, not when you saw your messmates shot down beside you?" criedRodd. 

"My word, no, sir!" cried Joe, laughing. "We none of us felt afraidthen; it only made us feel wild and want to sarve the other side out. No, sir, " continued the bluff fallow, in a quiet matter-of-fact way, andhis voice utterly free of vaunt, "whether it's a sea-fight or things aregoing wrong in a storm, we sailor fellows are always too busy to feelafraid. You see, I think, sir, it has something to do with the drilland discipline, as they calls it, training the lads all to worktogether. You see, it makes them feel so strong. "

"I can't say I do see, " said Rodd. 

"No, sir, because you haven't been drilled; but it's like this 'ere. One man's one man, and a hundred men's a hundred men--no, stop; thataren't quite what I mean. It aren't in my way, Mr Rodd, sir; I neverwas a beggar to argue. The fat Bun can easily beat me at that. This'ere's what I mean. One man's one man, and a hundred men's a hundredone men. That's if they aren't drilled and trained like sailors orsoldiers; but if they are trained, you see each one man feels as if hehas got a hundred men with him all working together, and con-se-quently, sir, every chap aboard feels as if he's as strong as a hundred men. Nowdon't you see, sir?"

"Well, yes, " said Rodd quietly; "I think I begin to see what you mean. "

"Why, of course you do, sir. Say it's heaving a boat aboard, and ittakes twenty men to do it. Why, if they go and try one at a time, whereare you? But if you all go and take hold together, and your officersays to you, `Now, my lads, with a will, all together! Heave ho!' whythen, up she comes. Well now, I do call that rum! Look at that, sir. If here aren't the old man, just as if he had heard what we was talkingabout, passing the word for gun drill, or else a bit of knicketty knockwith the cutlasses and pikes!"

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

A STRANGE VISITOR. 

Upon hearing Joe Cross's announcement Rodd eagerly turned, to find hisuncle just coming on deck to take his evening walk after a busy day withhis specimens that he had dragged and trawled from the calm sea. 

The captain had just given orders to the mate to summon all hands ondeck, and one of the first proceedings was to call the men to attention, the next to send them to the small-arms chest, from which each returnedwith cutlass buckled on and carrying a boarding pike, which were placedin a rack round the mainmast. 

Rodd took his position just opposite as the men fell into line; UnclePaul seated himself as far off as he could get, in a deck-chair, wherehe sat and frowned; and then Captain Chubb diligently put his menthrough all the evolutions of cutlass drill over and over again, till hewas satisfied, when he bade them fall out for a few minutes to ridthemselves of their cutlasses. 

In the interval Rodd went up to where his uncle was seated. 

"I say, uncle, " he said, "how the men have improved!" Uncle Paulgrunted, and just then Captain Chubb strolled up. 

"Well, sir, " he said, "we shall soon have a crew now as smart as aman-of-war's. "

"So I see, " grumbled Uncle Paul; "and when you have got them perfectwhat are you going to do with them?"

"Ah, that remains to be seen, sir. There's nothing like beingprepared. "

"Better let the men rest after all they have done to-day. What withtheir deck cleaning and the work they have done for me, they don't wantsetting to play at soldiers. "

"Playing at soldiers, eh, sir? I call it playing at sailors. No use tolock the stable-door after the steed's stolen. My lads may never becalled upon to fight, but if by bad luck we are, I should like them tobe able to use their fighting tools like men. "

"Oh, it isn't likely, " said Uncle Paul, "in a peaceful voyage likeours. "

"Most unlikely things are those that happen first, " growled the captain. 

"But you worry the men with too much work, and I want them to be freshand ready for me to-morrow morning. I don't want the poor fellows to bediscontented. "

"Discontented, sir!" cried the skipper hotly. "I should like to seethem look discontented! But not they! They like it. Puts them in mindof their old fighting days. Now you shall see them go through theirdrill with the boarding pikes, and see how smart I have made them. Isay they like it, sir; and I know. "

"Then I suppose, " said Uncle Paul, "you will set them to work lumberingabout that great gun, pretending to load and fire it. Why, who in theworld do you expect we are going to encounter out here on the high seas?We are not at war with the French. "

"Captain Chubb thinks we may meet with the privateer, " said Roddmerrily. 

"Don't you make rude remarks, Rodney!" cried Uncle Paul angrily. "Well, there, captain, I suppose you will have your own way, but it seems to megreat waste of time. "

"Oh no, sir, " said the skipper good-humouredly. "I suppose you mean torun in and up some of those rivers we shall pass by and by?"

"Most certainly, " cried the doctor. 

"Well, and what then, sir? You are going right out of civilisationthere, and among black tribes and warlike people who are ready foranything, from attacking another tribe and bringing the prisoners downthe river to sell for slaves, up to taking a fancy to any smart craftthey can master, and then stripping her and burning her to the water'sedge. "

"And what becomes of the crews?" cried Rodd sharply. 

"Well, Mr Rodd, that's rather a hard question to answer. If ever yougo to Liverpool or Bristol and you get asking questions amongst themerchants there, you will find they have got some queer tales to tell. Sorry you don't like my plans, Dr Robson, but even if we never get intotrouble we shall be none the worse for being prepared. "

"Oh, I am not going to complain, Captain Chubb. Drill away as much asyou like. You say the men like it, and it satisfies you. Then my boyRodd, here, nothing will please him better than letting him have acanister of gunpowder to play with and pop off that gun. So I am in aminority, and I will give in. There, you'd better take Rodd and drillhim too. "

"I'll take you at your word, sir, " said Captain Chubb, laughing, andmaking Rodd start with eagerness. "Fall in, my lads. Pikes. "

The drilling went on till it was beginning to grow dusk, and then pikeswere laid aside and orders given for the gun crew to take their places, Rodd closing up quickly in anticipation of something coming off. 

"Rather warm weather, Mr Rodd, sir, " whispered Joe Cross, as, aided byanother of the crew, he proceeded to cast loose the lashings and stripthe tarpaulin off the long gun. "If it warn't for the showers this 'erepocket pistol might very well do without her greatcoat. I say, sir, didn't I hear your uncle tell the old man that you were to have acanister of powder just to fire her off once or twice?"

"Yes, Joe, but I think it was only to tease me. "

"You ask the skipper to let you have one. It's all very well to go onramming and sponging and making believe to load, but it is like havingyour grog served out in an empty glass. And if the old man grunts andshakes his head and grumbles about waste of ammunition, you just ask himif he'd mind you bringing one of your canisters of powder as you andyour uncle's got for your double guns. He might let you then, if yourold man don't mind. We could divide it into about four goes as wouldn'tmake much noise, and there'd be some sense in it. There would besomething to ram down; and the lads would like it. "

"But the captain wouldn't let you fire away any cannon balls, Joe. "

"Well, no, sir, I suppose not, unless we got the cook up with apudding-bag to hold it over the muzzle and catch them again. "

"Wouldn't a straw hat be better, Joe?" said Rodd dryly. 

"Well, now you talk of it, sir, " replied the man, grinning, "I neverthought of that. Perhaps it would if one of us held it lightly in hishand and eased off a good deal when we fired. If you didn't do that ofcourse the ball might go right through. "

"Well, I'll ask the captain, Joe. "

"Yes, sir; do, sir. As I said afore, it would please the lads, and dogood too, for it would clean the gun's teeth, sweep away all the scalesand rust. "

"Scales and rust!" cried Rodd. "Why, it isn't an iron gun; it's brass. "

"Why, so it is, Master Rodd, sir. Why, only fancy me not thinking ofthat! But here he comes. Try it on, sir. "

"Shall I, Joe?"

"Yes, do, sir; as I said, it would please the lads. They're just like alot of school-boys when they gets a chance of a change. "

"And Joe Cross doesn't care a bit, " said Rodd. 

The man gave the speaker a comical look as he replied--

"Well, sir, you see, I was a boy once, and I was born with a lot ofhuman natur' in me, and I never got rid of it, and I am afraid I nevershall. There, go on, sir, " whispered Joe. "Pitch it into him at once. "

Rodd moved towards the skipper as he came up, and as the latter lookedat him inquiringly he began--

"You heard what my uncle said, captain?"

"What about, my lad?"

"Letting me have some powder to play with. "

"Ay, ay! But you don't want that?"

"Oh, I don't know. I wish you would have a canister and let the menload the gun properly. "

"Eh?"

"It would be like practice. "

"Well, that's true. But it would be only waste of powder; and I'm notgoing to waste any of the cannon balls. "

"No, I don't want you to do that. "

"Besides, I don't want to use either of the powder-bags, and they'remade for a regular charge. "

"Beg pardon, sir, " cried Cross. "Might make small charges up with asnuff of powder wrapped up in paper; and then I could prick and prime. "

"Um-m-m!" the captain growled, and frowned, while the gun crew stoodwith parted lips, looking as eager as so many boys on the Fifth ofNovember. Then the captain grunted. 

"There, Mr Rodd, " he said, "it will be a bit of practice for the lads, and it won't please you, of course. You don't want to see the gunreally fired?"

"Oh, I have seen salutes fired, at Plymouth. "

"Ah, so you have, of course, my lad. But those are bangs, and thiswould be a bit of a whiff. "

"That doesn't matter, " said Rodd. "It will be real, and not pretendingto fire. "

"Very well, " said the captain, smiling grimly. "Maybe you'd like tofire?"

"Yes, I should, " cried Rodd. "No; let Joe Cross and the other men dothat. I'll stand aside. "

There was a little more discussion, quite in opposition to ordinarydrill, while the skipper went below and then returned with a poundgunpowder canister painted red. 

"I say, look here, Chubb, " cried the doctor. "Shall I have to move?"

"Oh no, sir; we shan't shoot you, " replied the skipper grimly. "You'llbe safe enough, unless the long gun bursts. But she's too new andstrong for that. Here you are, Cross. Make that into four charges. "

The speaker was in the act of passing the canister to the man, when thelook-out man from forward suddenly shouted--

"Sail ho!"

"Where away?" cried the captain. "About five points off the starboardbow, sir. Leastwise, sir, it aren't a sail. It's a big boat, bottomupwards and just awash. "

"Stop a minute, " cried Rodd. "I'll fetch our glass. "

"Bring mine too, my lad, " cried the captain, and Rodd raised his hand intoken of his having heard the order, as he dashed to the cabin hatch, toreturn directly after and find that his uncle was forward along with theskipper scanning the object about a quarter of a mile away. 

"Catch hold, uncle, " cried Rodd, and he held out the telescope with onehand, and the captain's big mahogany tubed spy-glass, decorated withcoloured flags, with the other. 

"No, focus it and use it yourself, boy. I'll have a look afterwards. "

Rodd raised the glass at once to his eye, but by this time the skipperhad caught the object, and began to growl remarks. 

"Capsized long-boat, " he muttered. "No, it's a fish--sick whale, Ithink. But I don't know. It's moving pretty well through the water. What do you make of it, my lad?"

"It's very big and long, " cried Rodd excitedly, "and it may be part of awhale's back just showing above the water. I don't know, though. Inever saw a whale swimming before. Here, I know! I think it's five orsix porpoises swimming one after the other and close together. "

"Nay!" growled the captain. "It's something--"

"It's gone!" shouted Rodd. "Oh, uncle, I wish you'd seen it. It seemedto sink down out of sight all at once. "

"'Cause it didn't like to be looked at, sir, " whispered Joe Cross. "Butlook out, sir, " he cried eagerly. "There it is again, a little fartheroff. "

"Have a look, doctor, " said the skipper, passing the glass to UnclePaul. 

"Is it a whale?" asked the doctor. 

"Nay, that's no whale, sir, " replied the captain. "A whale don't gounder water like that when she sounds. Down goes her head, and shethrows her flukes up in the air. "

"Then what is it?" cried Uncle Paul, with the glass now glued to hiseye. "It's something very big. Yes, I can see plainly now--blackish-grey, and shiny as if slimy. It seems to undulate, for oneminute the back seems to be only a few feet long, then three or fourparts are above the surface at once, as if the creature were twenty orthirty feet long. "

"Yes, sir; I can see that with the naked eye. --Nay, nay, sir; you keepthe glass. It's more in your way than mine. Seems to me as if we havehit a curiosity for you, only it's rather too big to tackle. "

"I think it's a great snake, " cried Rodd excitedly. "I mean, a verylarge eel, swimming on the top, and he keeps throwing his head about asif he were feeding in the middle of a shoal of fish. "

"Yes, it is something like that, Rodd, " said the doctor; "but no congereel could be as large as that, and really I don't know. "

"Sea-sarpint, sir, " whispered Joe Cross to Rodd, and looking longinglyat the glass the while. 

"Nonsense!" cried Rodd. "Here, you have a look, Joe, " and he passed theglass to the sailor. "Now then, " he said, "what do you make of it?"

"I say sea-sarpint, sir. " The captain growled more deeply than ever. 

"Sea-sarpint!" he said, in a tone of disgust. "There, hold your tongue, my lad. You're a naturalist, doctor; you haven't got no sea-sarpints inyour books, have you?"

"No, " replied the doctor, handing the glass to one of the men, as hecaught his longing eye. "But this must be a very curious fish, and itis evidently feeding. I wish it were coming this way, so that we couldhave a better view. "

Joe Cross lowered the boy's glass and looked questioningly at Rodd, giving at the same time a wag of his head in the direction of thenearest man. 

"Yes, let him have a look, " said Rodd hoarsely, and as the glass waspassed the boy caught the sailor by the sleeve, and whispered, makingJoe start and gaze at him inquiringly, before stooping down and givinghis thigh a slap with his right hand. 

"Ay, ay, sir!" he whispered. "Ask the skipper. "

"Ask the _captain_ what?" said the skipper sharply. 

"I have been thinking, Captain Chubb, " panted Rodd. "Have the long gunloaded with a ball, and let the men try and hit that thing. 'Tisn'tabove a quarter of a mile away. "

"Eh? Have a shot at it, my lad?" said the captain, staring, and thenshading his eyes to watch the object that was gliding along, making thewater ripple strangely, while all around it was in violent ebullition, betokening that a large shoal of fish was feeding there. "Well, I don'tknow. What do you say, doctor?" continued the speaker. "I don't saythat the lads could hit it, but they might. "

"Certainly, " said the doctor eagerly. "Try. "

There was no occasion to give orders for a ball to be fetched up. JoeCross and Rodd had darted off together, plunged down the hatchway, andwere back again in an incredibly short space of time, the sailorcarrying the ball, while Rodd had snatched up three or four big sheetsof paper from off one of the laboratory lockers, and then as rapidly aspossible a good charge of powder was emptied into one of the sheets, thegun's crew fell into place and rammed the charge home in the mostbusiness-like manner, the ball followed, Joe Cross thrust the prickerdown into the touch-hole and primed, while another of the men ran with apiece of slow match to the cook's galley, where the water was beingboiled for tea. 

Everything was done skilfully and with speed, while all on deck were ina state of profound excitement and dread lest the great creature shoulddisappear from sight and rob the spectators of their looked-for sport. 

"Oh, do be quick!" cried Rodd. 

"Yah-h-h!" came in a groan, for as the words left the boy's lips therewas a violent ebullition where the great serpent or whatever it was hadbeen playing, the beautiful ripple of the shoal of fish died out, and inthe fast-fading light of the evening the sea all around lay gleaming andgrey, as it gently heaved, with no other movement now. 

"Oh, what a pity we were so long, " said Rodd dismally. "I believe weshould have hit it. I am disappointed!"

"Well, so am I, if you come to that, Rodd, my boy, " said the doctor, "though I don't think the men could have made a successful shot. Yousee, it requires a great deal of practice to hit an object like thatwith a big gun. "

"Whatever it was, " growled the captain, "it was feeding on that shoal offish, and when it made that dash it scared the lot away. There it isagain! You, Joe Cross, take a good long careful sight. Don't hurry. Slow and sure. My word, you ought to hit that, my lad! It's a big 'unand no mistake. Silence there! Every man in his place. Slew themuzzle round a little more. Ready, Cross?"

"No, sir; want to lower a little;" and as he spoke the sailor thrust inone of the wedges a trifle. "That's about got it, sir. "

"Looks as if he'd come to stay, doctor, " said the captain excitedly, ashe bent down to glance along over the gun's two sights, for the shoal offish had risen once more, turning the beautiful smooth sea into adiaper-like pattern, while the strange object seemed as far as theycould make out to be making a snatching dart here and another there, seeming to be like some whale-like creature with a long neck. 

"Now she's steady, sir, " whispered Joe Cross huskily, after taking thecaptain's place for another sight. "It's as near as I can get, sir. Ifyou'll give me the word. "

As he spoke the sailor drew back slightly, the captain cried "Fire!" andwith a heavy, sharp crack a puff of white smoke darted from the muzzleand began to expand forward like a grey balloon, obscuring everythingfrom the sight of the lookers-on for about a minute, before it roseclear, and then the darkening sea was all grey once more. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

CHUBB RE SEA-SERPENTS. 

"Hah! Very disappointing--very, " said the doctor. 

"Yes, it's gone, I suppose, sir. One couldn't see where the shot hitfor smoke, but I expect it turned up the water and scared the thingaway. Well, it's best as it is. A great thing like that might havegrown very dangerous if it had been hit. "

"Oh, we don't know that, " cried the doctor. "Well, I suppose we can donothing more, " he continued, as, following his nephew's example, hestrained his eyes over the darkening plain. 

"No, " said the captain. "Cover up that gun, my lads, and break off. You, Cross, take charge of the gun, and well sponge her out. Youothers, pikes; fall in. Now then, right face. March!"

"I'm disappointed, " said the doctor, as the men were marched off. "Ishould have liked to have had a closer examination of that creature. Well, captain, what next?"

"Tea, " said the skipper bluntly. 

The tropics were very near, and the night began to come on rapidly, sothat the tea meal was partaken of by the light of the swinging lamp. But before it was over the moon rose above the sea very bright andsilvery, and getting rapidly near the full, while later on as it rosehigher it was nearly as light as day. 

Rodd was anxious to get on deck again, to see if by any possibility theweird-looking object that they had seen that evening might rise to thesurface; but anxious as he was to join the sailors and question them asto whether they had seen anything more, the conversation between hisuncle and the skipper kept him below, where he listened to theirdifferent expressed opinions. 

At last, though, he went on deck, and found all the men grouped togetherforward, and whispering to themselves about the visitor they had seen. 

One man said it was a sign, and another grunted, while a third turned toJoe Cross to ask his opinion. 

It was the stout heavy member of the crew who went by the name of theBun, and seeming the most impressed of the whole crew he asked Joe Crossas above. 

"Yes, " said Cross slowly, "you are quite right, Ikey Gregg. It's asign. "

"What's a sign?" asked Rodd, coming up. 

"The--the--Bun--Ikey Gregg says it is a sign, sir, that we see that bigsquirming wormy thing, and I says he's quite right, sir. It is a sign. "

"Why, what can it be a sign of, Joe?"

"Sea's calm, sir, and that brings all the shoals of young fish up to thetop to feed, and that there thing that feeds on them come up to the topto get a regular tuck out. "

"Oh, that won't do, " said Gregg the fat. "Things like that only come upto the top at particular times, and you mark my words, it means astorm. "

As the man finished, he turned his eyes to right and left, scanning thebeautiful silvery water before him, and then uttering a loud yell, hedashed by his companions, made for the forecastle hatch, and withouttroubling himself about the steps, leaped right down. 

"What's the matter with Ikey?" said one of the men. "Showing us how hecan jump?"

"Nonsense!" said Rodd. "It was as if he had been scared by something. He looked quite wild. "

The boy walked close up to the rail and looked over, to see that thewhole of the water right away from the bows was apparently ablaze withfire; but for a time he could make out nothing else, in spite of itscrystal clearness and the way in which in addition it was laced andlatticed as it were by the rays of the moon. 

Seeing nothing for the moment likely to have alarmed the sailor, he wasabout to turn off, but only to start the next minute, and stand clingingwith both hands to the rail, for some fifteen or twenty yards away theerst calm, heaving sea began to be violently agitated, running as itwere with the swiftness of a mill-stream; and then something dull andglistening and shining like a halo appeared just beneath the surface, rising till it was quite clear of the water, and passing the schooner inone broad pale streak. 

He was too much astonished to be startled, and for a few moments theonly idea that he could form was that a good-sized vessel had careenedover on to its side and was swiftly gliding along almost level with thewater. 

Then all at once something of the same moonlit glistening tint, but longand sinuous, slowly rose up eight or ten feet above the sea; then higherand higher till it was double that altitude, and in his excitement andagitation he realised that it was ended or begun by a snake-like headsomething after the fashion of that of a huge conger, the eyes beingmany inches across and dull and heavy after the fashion seen in adeep-sea fish. 

One moment he thought it eel-like, the next that it was some serpent, while to his utter astonishment what he took to be its neck rose higherin a graceful swan-like shape, beautiful in curve as it was horrible inits gleaming, pallid, slimy aspect. One of the great eyes seemed turnedto him with a peculiar glare, while as he fixed his own upon it as ifunable to resist the attraction, he made out that from behind the curvethe elongated body of the creature rose just above the surface, carryingout the semblance on a great scale to some swan-like half-fishycreature, and then with a quick rush as if the water were being hurledfrom it by enormously powerful fin-like paddles, the strange fish, reptile, or whatever it was, had passed on into the hazy moonlit nightand was gone. 

"Hullo here! Anything the matter, Rodd?" cried the familiar voice ofDr Robson, as he came quickly forward, followed by the skipper. "Whereis it?"

"Where is it, uncle?" faltered the boy. 

"Yes; that man Cross came running down to us in the cabin to say thatthey had seen the sea-serpent again. "

Rodd slowly raised one hand from the rail to which he had been holding, and pointed outward over the sea. 

"Well, " said Uncle Paul, "what are you pointing out? Plenty ofmoonlight, and glorious phosphorescence, but where's the sea-serpent?Where did it show again? Why, what's the matter, boy?" he continued, catching his nephew by the arm and taking his hand. "Don't standstaring like that. Your hand's all wet, and like ice! Have you beenfrightened?"

"I--don't know, uncle, I suppose so, " said the boy slowly and dreamily. "I never saw anything like it before, and--and--it came so close to theschooner. I think I thought it was going to make a snatch at me andtake me under water. But don't ask me now, please. I don't feel quiteright. I suppose I am cowardly; but it made Gregg run away. "

"Then why didn't you, " said the doctor jocularly, "if it was so horribleas that?"

"I couldn't, uncle, " cried the boy passionately. "I turned cold allover and couldn't stir. "

"Well, come down below for a bit, " continued the doctor. "Why, Chubb, the boy's had a regular scare. "

"Ah! and no wonder, " said the skipper gruffly. "It scared the men too. They saw it. "

"What, the same thing that you fired at?"

"Ah, that I don't know. That was a great long eely thing; but Joe Crosshere says this was more like a great turtle, with flippers and a longneck, and a head like a snake. "

No more was said till they were in the cabin, where soon after he hadfound himself in safety, shut in and with the swinging lamp burningabove his head, Rodd heaved a deep sigh and then uttered a forced laugh. 

"I couldn't help it, uncle, " he said, "and I didn't think I could havebeen such a coward; but I am all right now. The other men did see ittoo, didn't they?"

"Yes, my lad; they saw it too, " replied the skipper; "and next time wegoes ashore, if we are stupid enough to talk about it every one willlaugh and say we are making up tales for the marines. I've knownskipper after skipper who has seen something of the kind in the warmseas and has told yarns about them. But men don't often do so now, nomatter what they see, for one don't like to be laughed at. Well, sir, Isuppose you believe there's more queer things in the sea than mostpeople know of?"

"Well, yes, " said Uncle Paul, "I am beginning to believe more and morethat we who follow out natural history have a great deal to learn. "

"Take my word for it, sir, you have. But I dare say you will bedisposed to laugh at me and think that I am making up a bit of gammon, when I ask you if you remember what a frigate looks like when she hasgot all her ports open and her lanterns lit. "

"I don't see why I should, " said Uncle Paul quietly. "But of course Ihave seen a man-of-war like that by night; and a very beautiful objectshe is. "

"Very, sir. But what should you say if I was to ask you if you had seena fish looking like a little frigate with her ports all open and herlights shining in a couple of rows along her sides--lights that don'tburn, sir, but shine brightly as if they did?"

"Well, I am not a man to laugh at anything new in science, Chubb, " saidthe doctor quietly, "but between ourselves, your description is a bittoo flowery. "

"Not a bit, sir. "

"I have seen, " continued the doctor, "phosphorescent fish and insects, and even now, swimming round us, the sea is full of light-givingcreatures, but nothing approaching your frigates with the ports open, oranything near them. "

"Well, sir, I could take you right away to the eastward into the Indianseas--and I am not romancing, mind, but talking honest truth--I couldtake you and squire here, where you could drag up fishermen sort offish, big-mouthed fellows ready to swallow what they catches, fish thatguide themselves down in the dark deeps of the sea amongst the seaweedat the bottom, and there they hang out from the tops of their heads longbarbels that look like worms, and fish with them for other fishes, tocatch them to eat. "

"Oh yes, that's right enough, captain, " replied the doctor. "You know, Rodd, that great frog fish, the Father Lasher, as the fishermen callhim. Why, captain, we have got them at home off the Devon coast. "

"I know, " said the skipper. "I have seen them; but those are not what Imean. He didn't give me time to finish, squire, " continued the skipper, facing round to Rodd. "My ones out yonder in the Eastern seas alwayslive down below where it's deep and dark, and where the fishes couldn'tsee their baits. So what do you think they do?"

"Swim up to where it's lighter, " said Rodd. "Not they, sir. They growsa little bait as might be a little bit of meat at the end of theirbarbel-like fishing-lines, and wave it about in the water for the fishthey want to catch to see. "

"You said it was all black darkness deep down there, " cried Rodd. 

"So it is, my lad, and so that the fish may see it those little baits oftheirs all glow with light, and shine out in the dark black water. Now, doctor, what do you think of that for a bit of nature?"

"Extraordinary!" cried the doctor. "But who told you that?"

"Nobody, sir. I have seen them with my own eyes. "

"Yes, but what about the men-of-war with their ports lit up?"

"Of course I didn't mean men-of-war, sir. I thought I made youunderstand I meant fish. Fish about two foot long, with a row of lightsdown each side like lamps to see their way in the darkness. There, gentlemen, that's no story to tell to the marines, but a fact that Ihave seen with my own eyes; and if there's things like that deep down inthe seas, I don't see anything wonderful in there being what some peoplecalls sea-sarpints that might be as big as a great sparmacetti whale;and if you put some of them beside a cable a hundred foot long thereisn't much rope to spare. I knew of a ninety-footer once, though theydon't often get so long as that. "

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

A WARM BLUSH. 

Uncle Paul sat very quietly thinking for some time, while the otheroccupants of the cabin were waiting for him to deliver himself of whatseemed to be gathering in his brain. "You see, Captain Chubb, " he saidat last, "human nature has always been prone to exaggerate. If a boylike my nephew here hooks a fish and loses it, he goes home and tellseverybody that it was about five times as big as it really was. "

"Oh, uncle!" cried Rodd indignantly. "I am sure I never did!"

"Well, well, perhaps not, " said Uncle Paul shortly. "Don't say `perhapsnot, ' uncle. That isn't fair. You know I always try to tell thetruth. "

"Well, well; yes, yes, yes, yes, " said Uncle Paul testily. "I am notaccusing you, Rodney. I am only alluding to what people who tellstories do. "

"Why, of course, uncle, they say what isn't true if they tell stories. "

"Will you oblige me, Rodney, by letting me continue what I was about tosay?"

"I beg pardon, uncle. "

"Yes, Captain Chubb, " continued Uncle Paul, "there is that naturaldisposition born with us, one which requires a great deal of educationto eliminate; that disposition to exaggerate in talking about things wehave seen and others have not. "

"Yes, sir, I know, " grunted the skipper. "People will stretch. "

"Exactly, " said Uncle Paul--"magnify wonders that they have seen. "

"Quite right, sir. I did just now about that sparm whale. I don'tbelieve after all that they get to a hundred foot. "

"Still, " said the doctor, "we know what a spermaceti whale is; but thissupposed creature which has been reported of over and over again underthe name of the sea-serpent still lives only in the land of doubt--"

"Oh, uncle!" cried Rodd. 

"Well, sir, I didn't see much doubt about that thing. "

"H'm! no, " replied the doctor thoughtfully; "but still you must grantthat we did not have a fair examination, and that neither of us, even ifwe were clever with our pencils, could sketch an exact representation ofthe natural phenomenon. "

"Nat'ral, sir?" said the skipper gruffly. "Well, to my mind it is avery unnatural sort of thing. "

"I think I could sketch it, uncle, if I were clever with my pencil, which I am not, for I can seem to see it quite plainly now, as it raisedits neck out of the water when it swam by. "

"You think you could, my boy; but a great deal of it must have beenunder water, and your representation would be open to doubt. "

"Humph! What was it like, youngster?" said the skipper gruffly. 

"Just the same shape as a swan, " said Rodd, with something like ashudder, "only enormously, big; but instead of having wings and feet itwas just as if it had four great paddles. "

"That's right, " grunted the skipper; "just like what I see about tenyears ago in the Indian seas. I didn't see enough of this one to beable to tell. "

"Well, " said the doctor gravely, "I for a long time have been of opinionthat the reports that reach us from time to time about the sea-serpentmust have some truth in them, though they have doubtless been greatlyexaggerated. "

"Don't hear of many reports now, sir, " said Captain Chubb. "Wesea-going people have been laughed at too much. "

"Yes, I know, " said the doctor, "and I have thought over these matters agreat deal, and fully believe that we have a great many things todiscover, both at sea and on land, quite as wonderful as the so-calledsea-serpent. There's plenty of room, and I see no reason to doubt thatthere are great fish--"

"This warn't a fish, " growled the skipper. 

"Reptiles, then, " grunted Uncle Paul, "which as a rule dwell far down inthe depths of ocean, and which only occasionally seek, or are forced upto, the surface. "

"Forced up, uncle? What could force up a great thing like that?"

"You ask that, Rodd? Why, what forces a fish up sometimes, to floatupside down on the surface?"

"Oh yes, I know, " replied Rodd; "something wrong with its swimmingbladder. "

"Exactly; and I should say such a creature as you saw would in itsnatural state be always living deep down in the ocean. "

"'Cept when he comes up to feed, " growled Captain Chubb. "This 'ere onewas hard at work in that shoal of fish. "

"I don't see that that interferes with my argument, Captain Chubb, " saidthe doctor; "but what I was going on to say was this. There was a timein the history of this earth, when just such creatures as my nephew heredescribed used to be plentiful. "

"How long ago?" asked the skipper. 

"Ah, that's more than any one of us can say; but I have seen theirremains turned to stone, laid bare in a stone quarry--that is to say, their skeletons, which show pretty well what must have been their shape;and if they existed once there is no reason why some of theirdescendants, though very rarely seen, may not still survive, though I amhalf afraid that my nephew here must have some half-forgotten lingeringmemories of one of these creatures that he has seen in some geologicalwork, and upon seeing that fish or reptile let his imagination run riotand finished it off by memory. "

Rodd shook his head. 

"I saw it plainly enough, uncle. "

And the skipper gave his head a sapient nod, while the doctor shook his. 

"What were you going to say, Captain Chubb?"

"Only this 'ere, sir. I have 'eard more argufying and quarrelling aboutsea-sarpints than about almost anything else. I say sarpints, but Imean these things, and I say this. It will never be settled properlytill one of 'em is caught--which aren't likely--or one of them is castashore so as everybody can see fair and square. I believe in 'em, andI've good reason to. "

"So do I, uncle, " cried Rodd. 

"Well, " said Uncle Paul, "I have for a long time had my doubts, and nowI am no longer a sceptic. "

He looked very hard at the skipper as he spoke, and feeling that he wascalled upon to answer, the sturdy captain shook his head and brought hisbig hand down heavily upon the cabin table. 

"That you are not, sir, " he said; "your head's too full of science andknowledge and larning to be what you say. I don't quite exactly knowwhat it means, but I'll answer for it you are not that; and now if youdon't mind I should like for us to go up on deck again and have a goodlook round. It's 'most as light as day, and if a thing like that isplaying around we are just as likely as not to sight it again. What doyou say, sir, to taking your glass and being on the look-out?"

"By all means, " said the doctor. "Get the glass, Rodd. Hullo! What'sthe matter with you?"

"Oh, nothing, uncle, " said the boy, hastily rising. 

"Why, you took hold of the table as if you felt dizzy. "

"No, no, uncle. I am all right. "

"Not afraid, are you?"

"I--I was for a moment, uncle. "

"Good lad and true! Naught to be ashamed on, and spoke out like a man, "grunted the skipper. 

"But I tell you I am all right now, " cried Rodd angrily, and he darted afierce look at the speaker. 

"Of course you are, youngster; but you felt a bit skeart again, and'nough to make you. "

"Yes, " said Rodd sharply, "I did feel startled for a moment, but it'sall gone now. Come on, uncle; I have got the glass;" and the boy made adash for the cabin stairs. 

"I say, " whispered the skipper, "that's better than brag, doctor. "

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul, drawing a deep breath; "a great deal. "

They both then hastened up the stairs, to find Rodd half-way along thedeck, hurrying with the glass under his arm to join the men, who wereall gathered together at the bows, save their solitary messmate at thewheel. 

"Well, my lads, did you make it out again?" shouted the skipper. 

"No, sir, " replied Joe Cross, who took upon himself the part ofspokesman. "Aren't seen a sign of it. We have been casting it up amongus that it got more than it liked in the shape of that bullet, and aftergoing down, it turned waxy-like and come up again to have something tosay to us, but turned worse and went down. "

"Humph!" grunted the skipper. "Then you think we hit it?"

"Yes, sir; and some of the lads have been saying that if they was youthey'd load the big gun well with a lot of grape-shot, and if the beggarcome up again be on the look-out and let him have it. "

"Some on us, Joe Cross; not all. "

"Nay, but you meant it, Ikey Gregg, " said Joe. 

"Not me, messmate. I says it's dangerous to be safe to get meddlingwith things like that. "

"Ay, ay!" came from two or three of the other men, but only in ahalf-hearted way. 

But it was encouragement enough for slow, quiet, fat Isaac Gregg tocontinue--

"You see, gentlemen, it's like this. That there long-necked sarpintthing has only got to make a rush and chuck itself out of the wateraboard us here, and break the schooner's back, and where should us bethen?"

"I don't know, " said the skipper shortly. "But what do you say, doctor?"

"Well, for my part, speaking for the advancement of natural history, Captain Chubb, I should like to see that creature lying dead upon thesurface, and left floating long enough for you and your men to takemeasurements, while my nephew and I did the best we could with pen andpencil to describe what might very well be called one of the wonders ofthe world. "

"And what do you say, squire?" asked the skipper, speaking eagerly. 

"I say you'd better load the gun again, Captain Chubb, " replied Rodd, speaking very hurriedly. "We might hit it if it came up, and then wecould try and do what my uncle says. "

"Right, " growled the skipper. "Man the gun again, and you, Cross, comebelow with me and fetch a canister of grape-shot and a full businesscharge to load the piece. You lads who are not wanted for the gun, eachof you take a musket and an axe. It aren't likely that we shall come toclose quarters, but if we do--well, you know what. "

Every man on board joined in a hearty cheer, and in a very short timethe preparations were made, even the cook playing his part of keepingthe galley fire ready, while directly afterwards he edged up to whereJoe Cross was in conversation with Rodd. 

"Thought I would come the old-fashioned dodge as well, sir, " he said. 

"Old-fashioned? What do you mean?"

"For firing the gun, sir. I've left the poker in between the bars toget red-hot. Put that to your touch-hole. Beats slow match hollow;don't it, Joe?"

"Ay, that it do, mate, if you have got the fire, and the poker's hot;but you have to come back to the slow match if neither one nor t'other'sready. Well, Mr Rodd, sir, it don't look as if any of us is going tohave the watch below to-night. "

"No, Joe, it doesn't. Do you think the monster will come up again?"

"Can't say, sir, I'm sure, and to speak honest, there are times when Ihope it will and there are times when I hope it won't. Sea-sarpintsaren't much in my line. I have had a turn in a whaler, and though aright whale is a nasty kind of a bird to tackle when she is in herflurry, you know what you are about. There's the harpoon in her, andyou have got her at the end of your line, and you're waiting for herwith your lances ready to put her out of her misery. But even if youhave got a few shot in her, a sea-sarpint's different sort of cattlealtogether, and I didn't like the looks of this 'ere one at all. Shecame up quite vicious-like to look after us. You see her eye, Mr Rodd, sir? I did, sir, for a moment. There was a sort of leery look aboutit, and it seemed to me as if she had just picked you out and meant tohave you. All the lads here know I'm one as never brags, but if there'sa bit of fighting on I am always ready to stick to my mates, just as Iwould now. "

"Ay, ay, Joe! That's a true word, " came in chorus. 

"Thank you, messmates, " said Joe modestly. "Well, then, I'll speak out. Between you and me and the post, my lads, I hope this 'ere annymilewon't come up to give us a shot. "

There was a low murmur at this which sounded very much like assent. 

"It's narvous sort of work, you see. If the schooner had been fittedout as a sea-sarpinter with the right and proper sort of tackle, why, that's another thing. But then you see, she aren't been. We haven'tgot the proper sort of tools, and we aren't been drilled to use themeven if we had. "

"That's a true word, messmate, " came in chorus. 

"And that's why I says I hope she won't look us up to-night; but if sheis following us up and keeping one of them great sarcer eyes upon ourkeel somewheres far away down below, I hope she'll leave it tillmorning. After sunrise we shall be able to see better, and have hadtime to get rid of a nasty unked sort of feeling which rather bothers mejust now, though I don't know how it is with you. There, Mr Rodd, sir, you faced the thing splendid. I see you, sir. You didn't turn roundand run away like Ikey Gregg. You stood fast there with your handsresting on the rail, staring the thing straight in the face. How youmanaged to do it I don't know. But do it you did, and I admired you, sir. "

It was moonlight, and the change in Rodd's face passed unobserved, butit was scarlet, and felt so hot that the boy involuntarily raised hishand to his cheek, while a feeling of annoyance pervaded him as helooked at Joe Cross suspiciously, in the belief that the man must bebantering him; but as far as the boy could make out, Joe Cross's frankcountenance was quite innocent of guile and he was speaking exactly ashe felt. 

But Rodd was not at rest, and in the calm still watch that followed, with every one on the look-out and ready to imagine that eachphosphorescent flash in the sea meant the moving upwards of the uncannyenemy, Rodd waited till all was still and restful and they seemed likelyto be undisturbed, to make his way to Joe Cross's side and get himalone. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

QUERY--A COWARD?

Joe had stationed himself on the larboard bow with his elbows restingupon the bulwark and his chin in his hands, gazing straight away to sea, his eyes fixed a little to the left of the dazzling path of light thatextended from the moon to the schooner. 

So intent was he upon something he fancied he saw, that he did not hearRodd's approach, and started violently upon being touched. 

"All right, sir; not asleep, " he cried. "Oh, it's you, Mr Rodd! Ifancied that it was the skipper, who thought he had caught me napping. Just you look yonder, sir. You are coming fresh to it. I have beenstaring till the little flashes of light make my eyes swim. Now then, just you look about half a cable's length left of that line of light, and see if you can't see something breaking water there. "

Rodd gazed intently in the direction indicated for some little timewithout speaking. 

"See anything, sir?" said Joe at last. "No. "

"That'll do then, sir. It was my fancy. Well, we are having a quietnight of it, sir. No more signs of that old sea bogy, and like enoughwe shan't get a squint at it again. "

"I don't suppose we shall now, Joe. "

"Sleepy, sir?"

"Not a bit, Joe. Here, I want to speak to you about that thing. "

"I am listening, sir. Talk away. Rather queer, warn't it, to come upona thing like that just when you didn't expect it?"

"Yes, Joe; and you said something about my not being frightened. "

"Yes, sir. You quite capped me. "

"Stop a minute, Joe. I want to say something to you. "

"All right, sir, " cried the sailor, looking wonderingly at the lad, whowas speaking to him in a husky impressive tone. 

But Rodd remained speechless, and it was the sailor who broke thesilence. 

"I'm a-listening, sir. Heave ahead. "

"Yes, " cried Rodd desperately. "Look here, Joe; were you making fun ofme?"

"Fun of you? No, sir. It was only my way, just to make things a bitmore cheery, for every one on deck seems to be in the doldrums, all onaccount of that great squirmy thing. "

"No, no, I don't mean that, " cried Rodd. "I mean, making fun of me whenyou told the men I wasn't frightened. "

"Fun on you? No, sir. Why, it was as I said. You quite capped me, tosee you standing facing that thing without shrinking a bit. I shouldhave expected to see you frightened to death. "

"Then it was because you didn't look well, Joe, " said Rodd, in a lowhoarse voice, as he made a brave effort to set himself right with theman. "I was frightened--so horribly frightened that I couldn't stir. "

"Well, and no wonder, sir. Enough to make you. Why, it would havefrightened a brass monkey, let alone a man. Look at Ikey Gregg. Ibelieve if you'd ha' 'eard him you would have found he was calling`Mother!' Poor old chap. There aren't no way of proving it, as onedon't know how heavy he was afore, but I believe he melted away a bit. Why, we was all like it, sir. It was a regular startler and nomistake. "

"Do you mean honestly that all the men were very much frightened?"

"Why, of course, sir. I telled you I was as bad as bad could be, and myhair stood right up on end--leastwise, it felt as if it did; and I cantell you this: I didn't feel like that when we were going into action, and that's saying a good deal, when a fellow didn't know whether thefirst sixty-four pounder that was fired wouldn't send its shot rightinto his chest. And so you felt regular skeart, did you, sir?"

"Yes, Joe; and it made me ashamed to hear you talking about me to themen as you did. "

"Oh, well, I don't know as it matters, sir. I said just what I thought, and I rather like to hear what you say, because it seems to brighten meup a bit. "

"Why? How?"

"Oh, because it makes me feel that I wasn't quite such a cur as Ithought I was. There, it's all right, sir, and I suppose it's quitenat'ral for any one to feel afraid when there's something really worthfeeling afraid on. I dare say we should both be just as bad again ifthat thing was to shove its head out of the water again close by here. "

"Then you don't think I was such a coward, Joe?"

"You! You a coward! Tchah! Let me hear any fellow say you are, andI'll hit him in the eye. But there, it's just as if that thing knowedwe were all ready and waiting for it, and so it won't show. I'mbeginning to wish that the skipper would send everybody but the watchfor their spell below; but I don't suppose he will, and so we must makethe best of it. But if I was you, sir, and didn't belong to the crew, Ishould just slip off below and turn into my bunk till breakfast-time inthe morning. What do you say?"

"No, " said Rodd shortly; and he stopped on deck and watched with the mentill the sun was well on high. 

Then the suggestion of breakfast seemed so full of promise that afterpartaking thereof he went back on deck, to stand scanning the beautifulsunlit plain with the glass; but no further glimpse was seen of thestrange monster that day, nor yet during the next six weeks, duringwhich time they glided into port for fresh provisions twice, the secondtime in that of the sunny Canary Islands. There a week was spent ininspecting the beauties and the wonders of the old volcanic caverns, before they were well at sea again with the sun daily growing hotter andsea and sky more beautiful. 

Days upon days were spent in exploring the attractions of the SargassoSea, till the doctor cried "Hold! Enough!" For the bottles in thelaboratory were being filled up too fast, and there was too much to doyet in the farther south, towards which they sailed slowly and steadilyon, till one day a holiday was announced, for the men had been hard atwork rowing here and rowing there, hauling in drag and dredge, soundingand hoisting, harpooning fish, and busying themselves with the spoilthey dragged on board, while Captain Chubb stumped up and down with hishands very deep in his pockets, scowling at his sullied deck, andwearing clouds upon his sun-tanned brow, till Dr Robson bade the menthrow all the rest overboard, this order, for which the skipper had beenimpatiently waiting, being immediately supplemented by another, briefand prompt. 

"Buckets! Swabs!"

And then as the slime of mollusc, fish and seaweed was washed away, andthe deck of the schooner rapidly grew white again, the skipper smiledand entered into a pleasant chat with the tired naturalist and hisnephew. 

The men's holiday was spent after the fashion of such holidays, over thebuffoonery enjoyed by the crew, especially in olden days, in crossingthe line; and then it was onward again amidst glorious sunrises andsunsets, amidst calms and fervent seas that seemed to blaze back theheat of the sun. 

It was all new to Rodd, and all glorious. He was never tired of seeingthe flying-fish skim out of the water to seek safety, scattered by thepursuit of some bonito or dolphin, watching them till they dipped downinto the smooth surface, as if to gather new strength, and then skim outagain. 

The dolphins and bonito were caught, the boy growing skilful in dartingdown the harpoon-like "grains, " the modern form of Neptune fish-spear. 

There were times too when the boy expressed his wonder that in spite ofall the time they had been sailing south, it had been such a rare thingto meet or overtake another vessel. 

"A pretty good proof, " the doctor would say, "of the vastness of theocean. "

"And of how there is plenty of room, uncle, for any number of wonderfulcreatures such as we have never seen yet. But are you always goingsailing on like this?"

"Why, aren't you satisfied?" said Uncle Paul. 

"Satisfied, uncle? Oh yes, with what we are doing. But I haven't hadnearly enough. I should like to go oil sailing like this for--"

"Ever?" said the doctor dryly. 

"Oh no, uncle; I mean for long enough yet. But I say, isn't the worldbeautiful?"

"More beautiful, boy, than words can express, " replied the doctorgravely. "But no. Now we are getting into the Southern Tropics I amthinking of going more to the east and into the great bay, so as to getwithin range of the African shores. Perhaps we shall make for themouths of one or two of the rivers, and get within soundings where wecan do more dredging. I anticipate some strange discoveries in thoseportions of the ocean; but at present we will keep on skimming thesurface and finding what we can. "

And so during the next two or three days they went sailing on, and foundsomething that they had least expected, to Rodd Harding's great wonderand delight. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

THE KING'S SHIP. 

It was the afternoon of a blazing hot day, when the pitch was oozing outin drops in every exposed place, and Rodd had found it exceedinglyunpleasant to touch any piece of the brass rail, bolt, the bell, oreither of the guns, for the schooner was gliding on southward with everyscrap of her white sails spread, and the wind that wafted her onwardsent a feeling of lassitude through all on board. 

Some days before, Captain Chubb had set his men to work to rig up asmall awning aft, and the doctor having declared that it was too hot forwork, he and Rodd had spent most of their time beneath this shelter, till the latter had struck against it, declaring it was all nonsense, for the sun came hotter through the canvas than it did where there wasno shade at all, or else it seemed to, for there was no breeze in theshelter, and though what wind there was seemed as if it had come pastthe mouth of a furnace, still it was wind, and the lad declared that itwas far preferable to stewing under the awning. 

It was a lazy time, and the men, who had dressed as lightly as theycould contrive, went very slowly about their several tasks, and at lastwhen Rodd strolled towards the man at the wheel, he had to listen to apetition. 

It was fat Isaac Gregg who was taking his trick, as he called it, and hebegan at Rodd at once. 

"I've got something to ask you, sir, " he said. 

"Oh, bother!" cried Rodd, taking off his straw hat to turn it into afan. "It's too hot to listen. Don't ask me anything, because if youdo, I shall be too stupid to tell you. "

"Oh, it aren't hard, sir, " said the man innocently, as he let a coupleof spokes pass through his hands and then ran them back again. "It'sonly as the lads asked me--"

"Well, well, go on, " said Rodd, for the man stopped. "Phew! It's justas if the tops of the waves where they curl over were white hot. "

"Yes, sir, it is a bit warm, " said the man; "but I've felt it warmer. "

"Couldn't, " said Rodd abruptly. 

"Oh yes, sir; much hotter than this. "

"What! You've felt it hotter than this?"

"Oh yes, sir. "

"Then why didn't you melt away? I should have thought you would runlike a candle all into a lump. "

"Ah, that's your fun, sir. Some of the lads has been telling you that Iam fat. That's a joke they have got up among them, just because I'm alittle thicker than some of the others. But as I was a-saying, sir, they ast me to ast you--"

"Now it's coming then, " sighed Rodd. "Phew! Wish all my hair had beencut off. It gets so wet, and sticks to my forehead. "

"Yes, sir, it's best short, " said the man. "Just you look at mine. Youshould have it done like this. "

As he spoke the sailor took off his hat and exhibited a head which hadbeen trimmed down till all the scalp resembled a dingy brush, for it wascut with the most perfect regularity, for the hair to stand up inbristly fashion for about a quarter of an inch from the skin. 

"Why, who cut that?" cried Rodd, with something approaching to energy, this being the first thing that had taken his attention that day. 

"Joe Cross, sir. He's a first-rate hand with a comb and a pair ofscissors. You let him do your head, sir and you won't know yourselfafterwards. "

"Oh yes, I should, " said the boy sleepily, gazing down at the quiveringcompass and its many points. 

"I mean you would feel so comfortable, sir. "

"Oh, well, then, I will. Anything, " cried Rodd--"anything not to be sohot!"

"That's right, sir. Ast me to ast you, sir. "

"Well, you've been asking for the last half-hour. What is it?" criedRodd peevishly. 

"To ast the doctor, sir--"

"For some physic to make them cool?" snapped out Rodd. "Tell them to goand ask him themselves, and he'll say what I do--that they are not toeat so much nor drink so much, and not to work in the sun. There, that's all uncle would say. "

"Yes, sir, but that aren't it, " cried Gregg, making one of the spokes ofthe wheel swing from hand to hand. 

"Then what do they want?"

"Why, sir, it seems rum, but Joe Cross and the other lads know betterwhat's good for them than I do. You see, sir, they want to get to workagain at your fishing and hauling, or rowing about, for they says theycan keep much cooler when they are moving about and got to think whatthey are doing than when there's no work on hand and nothing to thinkabout at all. "

"Oh, very well, " said Rodd grumpily, "I'll go and ask him, for I amabout sick of this. I think there must be some volcanoes here, orsomething of that kind, for I never felt it so hot before. "

"You aren't used to it, sir; but I thought you would, sir, and the ladssaid they thought you would too. Thank you, sir. "

Rodd yawned, turned slowly on his heels, and strolled away to whereUncle Paul was sitting back in an Indian cane chair, resting thecarefully-focussed spy-glass upon a half-opened book standing upon itsfront edges propped upon four more in the middle of a little table. 

"Ah, Pickle, my lad! You had better stop in the shade. I don't wantyou to be getting any head trouble in this torrid sun. "

"Oh, I am all right, uncle; but the men want to begin fishing or doingsomething again, keeping cool. "

"Too hot till towards evening, my boy, " replied the doctor. "But lookhere; you were saying only the other day how strange it was that we sawso few vessels. Well, here's one at all events--a three-master. "

"Oh, whereabouts, uncle?" cried the boy eagerly. 

"Away to the west yonder, hull down. There, take the glass. "

As Rodd was arranging it to his own satisfaction the doctor went onquietly--

"Out here I am not going to give an opinion, but if we were in thegarden at home in the look-out I should say that was a man-of-war cominginto Plymouth port. "

"Yes, that she is, uncle, " cried Rodd, who had forgotten the heat inthis new excitement. 

"A man-of-war--that she is!" said Uncle Paul quietly. "That soundsridiculous, Pickle. But one has to give way to custom. "

"Yes, " said Rodd--"a frigate. I can tell by her white sails. "

"Not big enough for a frigate, my boy. A sloop of war, I should think. Now, what can she be doing down here?"

"I know, uncle, " cried the boy excitedly--"looking after the slaveships. "

"Ah, very likely, " cried Uncle Paul. "I shouldn't be surprised. We arepretty near to that neighbourhood; and if she is it's quite likely thatshe'll overhaul us. Ah, here's Captain Chubb coming up. Look here, skipper!"

The captain, who looked very hot, and whose face proclaimed very plainlythat he had been having an after-dinner nap, came slowly up, stoopedwithin the awning, and in silence took hold of the spy-glass, whoseglistening black sides were quite hot, and which Rodd thrust into hishands. 

He wanted no telling what for, but raised and adjusted the glass to hisown sight, took a quick shot at the distant object upon the horizon, andthen lowered it directly. "British man-of-war, " he grunted. "That'sbad. "

"Why?" cried Rodd sharply. 

The skipper turned upon him, looked at him fiercely, and then almostbarked out--

"You don't know, youngster?"

"No. What do you mean?"

"Means that I've got as smart a picked crew as a man need wish to have. "

"To be sure, " said Rodd; "of course you have. I do know that. "

"Well, " said the skipper gruffly, "I don't want to lose them; that'sall. "

Rodd and his uncle exchanged glances, while the skipper went and stoodat the side and began scanning the sky, to come back shaking his head. 

"No more wind, and not likely to be. "

"Well, we don't want any more, do we?" said Uncle Pad. 

"Ay; if a good breeze would spring up I'd show them a clean pair ofheels. "

"Oh, I see, " cried Rodd excitedly. "You think that they would presssome of our men and take them aboard. Oh, Captain Chubb, you mustn'tlet them do that!"

"I don't mean to, my lad, if I can help it. I hadn't reckoned on seeingone of them down here. "

"Uncle thinks they're after the slavers. "

"Nay, my lad, I don't think that. More likely after one of the palm-oilcraft to see if they can pick up a few men out of them. "

"Oh, that's a false alarm, captain, " said Uncle Paul. "My papers andthe work we're upon with a grant from Government would clear us. "

"Ought to, sir, " said the skipper gruffly, "but I wouldn't trust them. If a King's ship wants men, good smart sailors such as ours, men whohave served, her captain wouldn't be above shutting his eyes and makinga mistake. Anyhow I'm going to crack on as hard as I can till shebrings us up with a gun, and then I suppose I shall have to heave to orrisk the consequences. "

"Hadn't you better risk the consequences, Captain Chubb?" said Rodd, ina half-whisper. 

"Here you, Rodney, mind what you are saying, sir! It's the duty ofevery Englishman to respect the law, and I feel perfectly certain, Captain Chubb, that there is nothing to fear in that direction, so goquietly on as you are, unless you are obliged to heave to. Seeing howlittle wind there is, and how distant that sloop, I think it's veryprobable that she'll not overhaul us before it grows dark. "

"Oh, uncle, " cried Rodd, "she'll have plenty of time. The sun won't godown for an hour or so. "

"Well, how long will it be before it's dark afterwards?" cried UnclePaul. "You forget that we are in the tropics, and how short a time itis between sunset and darkness. "

"Yes, sir; you are quite right there, " said the skipper, "and that'swhat I'm hoping for. If we can only get the bit of time over 'twixtthis and the dark, I shan't care, for she won't see us in the morning. "

By this time one of the sailors forward had noticed the skipper usingthe glass, seen what took his attention, and communicated it to hismessmates, with the result that all who had been below gathered forwardand stood anxiously watching the beautiful vessel, whose sails glistenedin the sunshine as if their warp was of silver and their woof of gold. 

Rodd noticed at once what a change had taken place amongst the men. Alllistlessness had gone, and they were watching the King's ship, for suchCaptain Chubb had declared her to be at once, and were talking inexcited whispers together, their manner showing that whatever thecaptain's opinion might be, theirs was, as sailors, that they would nottrust a King's ship that was in want of men. 

After a time Rodd was attracted towards them, and he strolled up, JoeCross turning to him at once, to begin questioning him in a low tone. 

"What does the skipper say, sir?"

"He said it was a sloop of war, Joe. "

"Oh yes, sir, we know that, " said the man irritably; "but we've been'specting him here ever so long. So's our bo'sun. There, look; he'sgot his pipe in his hand. Didn't he say nothing about no orders?"

"No, Joe. "

"Didn't he say nothing about hysting another stunsail or two?"

"No, Joe. "

"Oh-h-h!" came in a groan from the men; and Rodd felt for them, for oflate they had become more and more attached to their position, andseemed as happy as a pack of school-boys on board the beautiful littleschooner. 

"But he has been saying something, lads, " continued Rodd, in a low tone. 

"Ay, ay, of course, " cried Joe. "Our old man don't want to lose us, andhe knows best what he ought to do. Go on, Mr Rodd, sir; tell us whathe means. "

"I think he means to keep on quietly, in the hope of the schooner notbeing signalled to heave to. "

"Go on, sir, please, quick!" panted one of the men. "You don't knowwhat it means to us. "

"Before it becomes dark, " continued Rodd. 

"Ay, ay, my lad! That's right, sir. Why, of course, " cried Joeexultingly. "Trust our old man, boys;" and whistling loudly a few barsof the Sailor's Hornpipe, he snatched off his straw hat, dashed it downupon the deck, and began to cut and shuffle and heave and turn, goingthrough all the steps as if it were cool as an early spring, while hismessmates formed in a ring about him, half stooped with bended knees, joined in the whistle, and beat time upon their knees and clapped hands, till the figure was gone through, and Joe Cross brought histerpsichorean bit of frantic mania to an end, by bringing his right footdown upon the deck with a tremendous stamp which was followed by ahearty cheer. 

"That's your sort, Mr Rodd, sir! It's all right, " cried Joe, panting, and wiping his streaming face. "If anybody had told me that I could dothat ten minutes ago, when I felt as if I had hardly stuff enough in meto lift a leg, I should have told him he was going off his head. Didn'tthink you could put sperrits into us like that, sir, with just a word, now did you?"

"I am very glad, Joe, " said Rodd. 

"Glad, sir? So's we--every man Jack on us. You see, it means a lot. When you have got a comfortable mess, and a skipper as makes you haultogether in a brotherly sort of fashion, it aren't nice for a King'sship to come down and take its pick of the men. We as is able seamendon't want to shirk, and if we are obliged to go in time of war, why, weare ready to go and do our duty like men; but it do nip a bit at first, sir, 'specially at a time like this. "

"Ay, ay, Joe!" came in chorus. 

"You see, sir, mostlings life on board a ship is so much hard work, andyou has a lot of weather of some sort or another to fight agen; but withthe 'ception of that bit of rough time getting into the French port, this 'ere's been a regular holiday, and--Oh my! There she goes, lads!"groaned the poor fellow, for the hull of the sloop had been graduallyrising more and more into sight, rapidly at last from the refraction asshe had glided into a hotter stratum of air while nearing the schooner, and all at once a white puff of smoke had darted out of her bows, to befollowed by a dull heavy thud, when the men turned as with one accord togaze at their captain, as if hoping against hope that he would stillhold on instead of giving an order to fat Gregg, the steersman, to throwthe schooner up in the wind. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

SUSPICIOUS VISITORS. 

There was a dead silence among the men as the soft white ball of smokerose slowly and steadily, expanding the while and changing its shapetill it became utterly diffused. The occupants of the schooner's deckwere statuesque in their rigidity, the crew to a man gazing hard at thecaptain as they strained their hearing to catch his next command; thecaptain fixed his eyes from one side upon Uncle Paul, while Rodd stoodupon the other with his lips apart, gazing questioningly in his uncle'shalf-closed lids, as the doctor leaned back in his deck-chair with athoughtful frown upon his brow. 

Then he started slightly, for the captain spoke. 

"Well, sir, " he said, "what's it to be?"

"What's it to be, Captain Chubb? I do not quite understand you. "

"It's plain enough, sir. If I throw the schooner up in the wind weshall have a man-of-war's boat aboard us and some young officer incommand in less than half-an-hour. First thing will be he'll ask forour papers, and then fall in the lads, run his eye along them, take hispick, and order the poor fellows down into the boat; and that meanssending us back to port to fill up the best way we can, and perhaps notdo it. On the other hand, I can make believe a bit and still keepforging on a little till the darkness comes, and then--"

The captain stopped. 

"Yes, " said the doctor; "and then--"

"Well, sir, it would go very hard if that sloop of war wasn't out ofsight at daybreak to-morrow morning, and even if she wasn't I don'tthink she'd overtake us again. "

"I feel sure you are wrong, Captain Chubb, " said the doctor. "I repeat;my papers and the grant I have had from his Majesty's Government will, Ifeel sure, be sufficient to protect my schooner and crew from any actionin the way of pressing from one of his Majesty's ships. You will havethe goodness to obey the signal, and wait and see what follows. "

"You mean to risk it, then, sir?"

"I mean to do my duty as a subject of his Majesty the King, " said UnclePaul gravely. 

"Very well, sir. I am captain of this schooner, but I am your servant, and it is my duty to obey your orders, " said the captain, in hisgruffest tones; and he walked heavily to the man at the wheel. 

The time had been short, but too long for the patience of theman-of-war, for before the skipper had opened his mouth to give hisorder to the steersman, another puff of white smoke darted from thesloop's bows, there was a heavy thud, and a cannon ball came skippingover the heaving sea like a flat stone thrown by a clever boy across thewaters of a pond--dick, duck and drake fashion--while a thrill ranthrough all on board as they watched the shot pass right in front of theschooner's bows and give its final splash as it disappeared far away. 

Then the captain spoke, the stem of the schooner gradually bore round, with the sails beginning to shiver as she faced more and more to thewind, and finally flapping to and fro; but almost at once as the spokesturned rapidly through Isaac Gregg's hands, a deep low murmur ranthrough the crew, while a pang-like spasm seemed to shoot upward tocause a choky sensation in Rodd Harding's throat. 

"Silence there, my lads, " said the skipper sternly, and Rodd noticed thegloomy look upon his countenance as he turned his back to the doctor andwalked to the side to stand gazing at the distant ship. 

Many minutes had not elapsed before Rodd, who had turned his back to themen so as not to see their faces, and to hide his own, saw through thetelescope he was busily using, something moving at the side of thesloop--a something which glided down her side and which was soonafterwards succeeded by a faint glitter as of the movement of rays. 

Then there was a splash, followed by the regular dipping of oars whichseemed to throw up so much golden spray on either side, and the boycould plainly make out the sloop's boat being rowed out clear of theman-of-war, and gradually increasing its distance. 

Rodd watched them for some time, and what was but a speck to his nakedeye plainly showed in the field of the glass the regular movements ofthe men, and now and then a flash suggestive of the rowers wearingsomething brightly polished. 

There were more flashes too caused by the sun's nearly horizontal rays, and these came from right astern, where the golden orange sunshineseemed to be intensified, looking wonderfully red; but ere long thewatcher had grasped the fact that he was looking at the bright scarletcoats of so many marines, and then he was able to note the figures oftwo of the boat's occupants seated together. 

"The officers in command, " he said to himself. 

It was a long row from vessel to vessel, and the sun had begun to dip, and sank quite out of sight as the sloop's cutter came alongside, themen tossed up their oars, and a smart-looking officer of about thirtysprang up the side, followed by a lad of Rodd's own age, who took hisattention from the first. 

The officer was received at the side by the doctor and captain, Roddstanding slightly behind looking hard at the midshipman, who staredharder, frowning and putting on an air of the most consequential kind, while, presumably involuntarily, his left hand played with the ivory andgilt hilt of a curved dirk, suggestive of a strong desire to draw it outof its sheath and flourish it before the schooner's crew. 

The officer nodded importantly at the doctor, and then turned frowninglyupon the skipper with the angry question--

"What's the reason you didn't heave to?"

"Didn't give me time, " growled the captain surlily. 

"No insolence, sir! You ought to have obeyed the first gun. You are anEnglishman, and by the look of you have been long enough at sea to knowthe rules when you encounter a man-of-war. Now then, what ship's this?"

"_Maid of Salcombe_, Plymouth. "

"Owner?"

"I am, " said the doctor quietly. 

"Oh! What are you trading in?"

"I am not trading, " said the doctor quietly. "This schooner is upon ascientific expedition, under the auspices of the English Government. "

"Oh, " said the officer suspiciously; and he looked from the doctor tothe skipper, and from thence ran his eye over the crew gathered forward, while the midshipman altered the pitch of his hat, turned towards Rodd, whom for the last few moments he had been ignoring, and looked him upand down in a supercilious manner which made the blood mount to theboy's forehead, and set him staring down at the middy's bright shoes, from whence he slowly raised his eyes as far as the belt which supportedthe dirk, and from there higher up to his hat, where he fixed his eyesupon the officer's cockade and kept them obstinately there, till thelad's nostrils began to expand, he grew as red in the face as Rodd, andhis menacing eyes seemed to say, You insolent young civilian, how dareyou!

"Rather a strong crew, skipper, " said the lieutenant sharply. 

"Yes, sir; picked men, " replied Captain Chubb. 

"And there's a look about them of the able seaman, R. N. "

"Perhaps so, sir, " replied the skipper, who gazed bluntly back at theintruder. 

"Well-found schooner, skipper, and carries a press of sail. "

"Yes, sir. Very smart craft, " replied the skipper. 

"Long gun amidships and a couple of small brass guns forward, " continuedthe lieutenant, who seemed to miss nothing. "Very roomy hold below, Ishould say. "

"Yes, sir. Built for a Mediterranean orange boat. "

"And no cargo, I think you said. "

"No, sir; only scientific traps, as Dr Robson here calls them. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, interposing. 

"I am not talking to you, sir, " said the lieutenant haughtily. "Yourturn will come. "

Rodd's uncle bowed, and turned away, frowning. 

"Stop, sir!" cried the officer sharply. 

"What insolence, uncle!" said Rodd aloud; and he turned away from themidshipman, to cross to his uncle's side. 

"What's that?" shouted the lieutenant, and the middy clapped his hand tothe hilt of his dirk. 

"I said what insolence, sir. My uncle is a gentleman. "

"And it seems that his nephew is not. Be silent, boy, and recollect inwhose presence you stand. I am a King's officer. --Now, Mr--what isyour name? Robson? Have the goodness to tell me how it is that, with alight, fast-sailing schooner, well-armed, and with a crew evidentlyfighting men, you are found here in the neighbourhood of one of thenotorious slave-supplying rivers? You may just as well speak the truth, for in all probability your schooner will be a prize to his Majesty'ssloop of war _Diadem_. "

"I beg your pardon, " said the doctor quietly. "Suspicious appearancescan always be found by those who seek for them. If you will have thegoodness to step below with the captain you can examine the papers andthe scientific fittings of portions of the hold which were preparedunder my instructions when I started upon the voyage. I don't think, sir, you will find any accommodation has been made for the reception ofa black living cargo of those poor unfortunate objects of humanity inwhom a certain vile nefarious traffic is carried on. Captain Chubb, pray take this gentleman below and show him everything he desires. "

"Oh, " said the lieutenant sharply, "if this is so, Mr Rodson--"

"Dr Robson, at your service, " said the owner of the name, glancingsharply at his nephew, with a faint smile upon his lips, for at theutterance by the lieutenant of the syllable _Rod_ the boy had startedviolently. 

As the doctor spoke he took out his pocket-book, drew forth a card, andheld it between two fingers in doctor's fashion towards the officer. 

"Humph! MD, Plymouth. Oh, well, Dr Robson, I hope to find that I havebeen labouring under a mistake;" and he raised his hand to his cockedhat. "But I have my duty to do. "

"Don't apologise, sir, " said the doctor, who had changed as in a momentfrom the sturdy naturalist into the urbane medical man. "I quite seeyour necessity for guarding against imposture. Pray proceed. "

The lieutenant nodded sharply, and leaving his guard of a couple ofmarines at the gangway, and the boat's crew ready to spring up the sideat the slightest alarm, he followed the skipper to the cabin hatch, thedoctor hesitating as if in doubt for a moment or two, and then followingdeliberately down the cabin stairs. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

THE KING'S MIDDY. 

Rodd, full of excitement, was burning to follow too and see what helooked upon as the officer's discomfiture; but there was that middy, whoseemed to be left in command of the marines, and he felt a peculiarsensation which completely mastered him, filling him as it did with adesire to have what he afterwards called a good fall out with thatfellow, who seemed to make him metaphorically set up his feathers allround his neck and go at him as a strange young cockerel of a differentbreed who had suddenly appeared in the poultry-yard where he dwelt. 

So Rodd stayed on deck, thrust his hands into his pockets, ignored thepresence of the middy, and with something of a strut marched up to thetwo marines in the gangway, whistling softly the while, gave each afriendly nod, examined their grounded arms and their stiff uniform withits abundant pipe-clay, and ended by spreading his legs a little, swinging himself slowly toe and heel, and saying patronisingly--

"Rather hot toggery that, my lads, for weather like this. "

"Well, of all the impudence!" cried the young officer hotly; and he tooka step towards where Rodd was standing. 

Rodd faced slowly round, looked at the boy superciliously, then said ascoolly as could be--

"Hullo, midshipmite! Not gone below?"

"No, puppy, I have not gone below, " and as he spoke the lad pressed thehilt of his dirk involuntarily and sharply downward. 

"Ha, ha!" laughed Rodd. "Why, that looks like wagging your tail like amoorhen. I say, why didn't you draw that skewer just now? My word, youdid look fierce!"

One of the marines tittered, and the other spread his mouth into a broadgrin, while, convulsed with rage, the young officer turned upon bothfuriously, making them draw themselves up as stiff as their muskets. 

"How dare you!" cried the middy, turning back to Rodd, and now becomingfully conscious of the fact that the schooner's crew gathered forwardwere gazing at the scene with intense enjoyment. 

"What's the matter, reefer?" said Rodd, whose face was scarlet, butwhose words sounded as cool and indifferent as if he were calm in theextreme. 

"Matter, you insolent blackguard!" cried the midshipman. "If I were noton duty, and too much of a gentleman to soil my hands with a schooner'sloblolly boy, I would give you a sound thrashing with my belt. "

"Would you?" said Rodd coolly. "That's the worst of you reefers. Youare nearly all of you like that when you come ashore at Plymouth. It'syour uniform and the wearing of a skewer that makes you all so cocky. Now, do you know you have said what a fellow just your age once said tome at Saltash--but he didn't. He had an accident, and then we shookhands, and I took him home to my uncle's and helped him to bathe hisface. It was such a hot day that his nose bled a good deal. But westopped it. Nice fellow he was too, afterwards. So I dare say you'd beif I had taken you in tow a bit. "

"I understand you, sir, " panted the middy; "and look here, I shall notforget this. "

"Pooh! Yes you will, " said Rodd, with a mocking laugh. "I wish youwere going to stop on board. We have got a spare cot here. Get yourold man to give you leave when your lieutenant has done smelling in allthe lockers below. You come while the two vessels are in company, andI'll teach you how to use the gloves. "

"Oh, if I wasn't on duty!" panted the middy furiously. "I haven't got acard with me, but give me yours. We may meet again. "

"Hope we shall, I'm sure, " said Rodd. "I say, reefer, don't be so jollydisappointed because you won't have the price of half a nigger forprize-money. "

"Pah!" ejaculated the middy furiously; and turning his back upon Rodd hestepped to the side and looked over into the boat, to run his eyefuriously over her crew, who were all sitting upon the alert, ready forany order that might be given. 

But as he turned away and faced inboard, to his annoyance he found Roddclose up, smiling carelessly in his face. 

"I say, reefer, " he said, "you do look hot. "

"Sir!" snapped out the middy, trying to look the boy down. 

"I say, don't be so waxy because you are disappointed. "

"I beg, sir, that you will not address your remarks to me; and pleaserecollect that you and yours are not out of the wood yet. "

"All right; only look here; your lads have had a long row, and you havegot another one back. Let's give the poor fellows a bucket of water, and I'll pour a bottle of our lime-juice in and some syrup. It makes asplendid drink. Look there; those two red herrings of yours have begunlicking their dry lips at the very thought of it. "

The midshipman seemed to give himself a snatch, but he glanced at thetwo marines, and then turned and looked over into the boat, for he washorribly thirsty himself. 

"Dry, my lads?" he said. "Like some water?"

"Thankye, sir!" came in chorus, and Rodd called out at once--

"Joe Cross! Bucket of fresh water--two pannikins! And is the stewardthere?"

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"Two bottles of lime-juice and some syrup for the boat's crew andmarines. "

Just then Uncle Paul's head appeared above the cabin hatch, and hestepped on deck, coming forward to where the two lads were, Rodd smilingand good-humoured, the middy wearing the aspect of the celebrated dogwhich had been pelted with big marrow-bones, upon each of which reposeda thick juicy bit of beef. 

"Lieutenant Branscombe says will you step down and join us for a fewminutes, Mr Lindon. "

"Does he want me, sir?"

"Only to partake of a little refreshment this thirsty night. "

"That's right, " cried. Rodd. "You go on down with uncle. I'll seethat your lads have plenty. "

"Er--er--no grog, please, " said the middy hastily. 

"Not a drop, honour bright, " said Rodd, laughing. "You shan't bemastheaded for that;" and he clapped the young officer merrily on theback. 

The stay would have been longer, but the darkness was coming on fast;still it had been long enough for all to become the best of friends, andwhen the two officers came on deck it was to find the two crews engagedin a hearty game of repartee, the schooner's men casting jokes down intothe boat, and the man-of-war's men hurling them back. 

"Yes, a very smart crew, Captain Chubb, " said the lieutenant, "but if ithadn't been for the doctor's papers here, we should have been obliged tolighten you of about half-a-dozen, for you know you have no business tohave such men as this whilst his Majesty runs short. "

Just then the two lads were talking together hard. 

"Oh, don't you take any notice of that, Harding. Cocky, you called it. You should drop that; it's too schoolboy-like. You know a fellow may beonly a midshipman, still the ship's roll does call him a man, and when afellow's an officer in command of a lot of sailors, he's obliged to putit on a bit, else he'd never be able to keep them in their places. "

"Yes, I see, " said Rodd. 

"That's right; and before I go I just want to say it was very thoughtfulof you to promise that the lads shouldn't have any drink. I got intoseveral rows when I was young and green, and went ashore with boats'crews. They used to try on all sorts of dodges to get away to thepublic-house. I say, get that uncle of yours to stop about here fishingfor a bit. I want to get you aboard the _Di_ and spend an evening withus at the mess. Do. I shall get to like you. "

"All right; I will try, " said Rodd. "It wouldn't be the first time I'vebeen aboard a man-of-war. "

"Eh? Where?"

"Plymouth harbour. "

"Oh yes, I forgot. That's where you live when you are at home. Whydon't you join altogether? You are just cut out for a middy. "

"Couldn't leave uncle. Going to be a naturalist. "

"A what?"

"Scientific gentleman. "

"But serve the King!"

"What, and be sent down here hunting after the blackbirdingblackguards?"

"Pshaw! That's not really what we are here for; only if we see asuspicious-looking craft we board her. "

"Then what are you here for?"

"King's business. Mum. Mustn't say. "

"Now, Mr Lindon! Good-evening, Captain Chubb; and good-evening, doctor. Glad to have met you, sir, and I hope you won't put me down inyour black books as _homo durissimus_, or some other scientific name. Give way, my lads. Mr Lindon! Do you want to be left behind?"

"All right, sir, " cried the middy, springing into the boat and comingdown into the arms of a couple of the men. "Good-night, Harding! Weshall expect you on board the _Di_. "

Down dropped the oars on either side, and then splash, splash, inregular movement the blades tossed up the beautiful pale lambent water, while here and there they broke up the reflection of the stars that weregradually appearing in the soft violet sky, while the boat glided onfarther and farther from the schooner, making its way towards the lightsof the sloop, from which all of a sudden there was a sharp flash, followed at a perceptible interval by the report of a musket. 

This was answered a few seconds later by a flash and smart crack fromthe sloop's cutter, whose course Rodd leaned over the side to watch tillit was invisible, when he turned from the side, to find Joe Crosswaiting and evidently watching him. 

"Rather close shave, sir, " he said. "I began to feel as if some of uswas going to have our 'oliday come to an end. Wouldn't have been sobad, though, for there are some very jolly fellows there, and it aren'thalf a dusty life aboard a man-of-war when you have got over the firstfew days, and being what they calls homesick. Aren't no fear of theircoming back for us, is there?"

"Not the least, Joe. You are all safe enough. "

"We are a-going to give the doctor, sir, such a cheer when he comes ondeck again--three times three, and one in for you. My word, sir, thelads did laugh to see you take the starch out of that there youngreefer! It was fine!"

"Oh, never mind about that, Joe. But I say, you have been aboard aman-of-war. What would a sloop like that be doing down here?"

"Why, you know, sir; looking after the blackbird catchers--the slavers. "

"Oh no; they are not on this station for that. "

"Must be, sir. "

"No, Joe. "

"Well, but, sir, you heard what the lufftenant said to our old man. That's what they were after, sir, and a bit disappointed too, until youand the doctor made them so friendly. They thought they'd got hold ofthis fine craft, nice little prize, for she'd sell well just as shestands after being condemned. Handy little bit of pocket-money for themin these days when the war is over. Rather a puzzler to them at first. The second luff--that's what he was--had never tackled a natural historycraft before, and he wouldn't believe it. That's what they are herefor, sir, trying to put a stop to the slave trade. We come upon one inthe _Naaera_ once--the nearer and dearer we used to call her, sir. Justabout such a sloop as that is. It wasn't our business, but we boardedher, the slave ship, I mean, in a calm, and the blackguards aboard ofher showed fight and beat our boat off in trying to get away with theirsweeps. They were making for one of these swampy rivers out eastward, rowing as hard as they could, and bringing up a lot of the poor niggersfrom below to help pull at the sweeps. Sweeps, indeed! Nice sweepsthey were! And if they once got into the river we should have lostthem. "

"Well?" said Rodd. "And they beat you back?"

"That they did, sir. Took us quite by surprise. We never thought theywould have the cheek to resist; and we lay off, rubbing our sore earsand growling and spitting like angry cats, not knowing what to do, feeling that we should get worse off if we pursued, and ashamed to goback to face our old man; and just as we were feeling at our worst weknew that our skipper had been watching us all the time with his glass, and there was our launch coming full swing, chock-full of men showingtheir teeth. That set us all up again, and we were like new men. Roundwent our boat's head, and we were off in full pursuit of the slaver, thelads pulling so hard that we got alongside before the launch couldovertake us, swarmed over her low gunwale, and went at the slaver's crewtooth and nail, so savage that every man of us showed them the cutlasspractice in fine style, driving them back step by step till if we hadhad strength enough we should have driven them overboard or down below;but they were too strong for us. Put half-a-pound weight in a scale, sir, if there's a pound in t'other it is too much for it, and so it washere, sir. We boarded her from the starn, and had driven them right upinto the bows, but being a bit india-rubbery, when they could get nofarther they bounced back on us and we were being driven step by stepalong the deck, farther and farther aft, till they gathered theirselvestogether with a rush, yelling like demons, and the next thing would havebeen that such of us as could stand would have been driven over into ourboat again. But there was a regular hearty British cheer when we leastexpected it, for we had forgotten all about our other boat, and therewere the launchers swarming over her bows and taking them in the rear. That made our lads take heart again. We cheered back, and charged, andthere were the slavers, blacks, half-breeds and Portuguese, took, as youmight say, between the jaws of a big rat-trap, every one of whose teethwas a British sailor; and to save being chopped in two, down they alltumbled into the slaver's hold, trapped themselves like the poorwretches the hold was packed with. My word, Mr Rodd, sir, there aresome things as a fellow never can forget, and that was one of them. Itwas just awful, sir!"

"What, did you kill them all?" cried Rodd, horror-stricken. 

"Nay, sir, not one. We might have killed some of them if they had kepton showing fight; and I don't say, mind you, as some of them hadn't gotsome very awkward cuts, for when a British tar's fighting in a goodcause, and been knocked about till his monkey's well up, his habit is tohit hard; but there, as soon as we had driven that lot below theychucked their knives and axes and pikes away and began to howl formercy. What I meant was so awful was that place down below--that therehold with the slaver's crew trampling about and trying to hidethemselves amongst the chained-up cargo. Awful aren't the word for it, sir! The lads couldn't stand it: let alone the sick and dying, therewere some there that must have been dead for days, and that in a closehold in a sea like this! But I believe it was much hotter. Even theslaver's crew themselves begged to be let out--and there, I won't sayany more about it. It was quite time even then that our old countrybegan to put a stop to the slave trade, and I am sorry to say theyaren't done it yet. That's what made us chaps to-night so free-and-easywith that there boat's crew. You see, you can't help liking fellows whoare trying to put a stop to things like that. "

"No, Joe, of course not. But that's not what they are down here for. "

"Who says so, sir?"

"Why, that midshipman, Mr Lindon, told me so. "

"Well, he ought to know, sir. What did he say they were here for, then?"

"He didn't say, only that it was private and he couldn't speak. "

"Well, I don't know, then, only a man-of-war wouldn't be down here fornothing; that's pretty sure. Maybe we shall run into company with themagain some day, and then I dare say we shall know. They gave us lads afright, but I aren't sorry we met them, sir, for it was a bit of achange. Yes, Mr Rodd, sir, they are down here on some businesspertickler secret and sealed orders; but you wait a bit, sir, and I daresay one of these days you'll find out. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

OH, MURTHER!

Rodd was early on deck next morning for his bath, which consisted of somany buckets of water fresh fished up and dashed upon him by the men asa makeshift, consequent upon Captain Chubb telling him that he could nothave any swims on account of the sharks. "Can't spare you, my lad, " hehad said. "But I haven't seen a shark, " grumbled Rodd. "No, my lad, but they would very soon see you. You never know where those gentlemenare. "

So Rodd went on deck when sea and sky looked dim and a faint mist laylow upon the surface of the ocean, making everything indistinct. "She'sgone, sir; she's gone!"

"Who's she, and where has she gone?" said Rodd, rather sleepily. 

"The _Diadem_, sir. "

"What, the sloop of war? Not she! You will see her come peeping out ofthe fog yonder before long. "

"Nay, sir; she's gone right off, and it's all right. My word, I wish wehad got a fiddle here!"

"A fiddle! What for?"

"Hornpipe, sir. The boys are all bubbling over and don't know how tobear themselves. Nothing like a few kicks up and down the deck to awell-played old tune, to get rid of it all. "

"Why, what are you talking about?" cried Rodd. 

"Talking about, sir? Ah, you never knowed what it was to be a sailor, and when you are free never knowing for a moment how soon you may bepressed. Why, I don't believe there was a man Jack on us as slept awink last night with thinking about this morning. "

"What, for fear you would be pressed, after what uncle said?"

"Ay, ay, sir. Your uncle meant right enough, and he believed what hesaid, and that there lieutenant was civil enough; but a secondlieutenant aren't a first lieutenant, sir, and a first lieutenant aren'ta post-captain. We all talked a bit last night, and put that and thattogether, and Isaac Gregg, who aren't a very wise chap--you see, sir, he's got too much fat about him to leave room for anything else--but hesaid something smart last night. `Yes, ' he says, `my lads, that allsounds right enough, but suppose when that boat got back the captainsays, Yes, he says, it's all very well, and I dare say that there gentgot leave from Government to man his schooner and come down herebottling sea-leeches and other insects of that kind; but I am short ofmen for the King's ship, and that's more consequence than what he'sdoing of. So you just start back at daybreak in the boat with mycompliments to Dr Robson, saying I'm very sorry, but he must pleasehand over six of the best lads he's got. '"

"Oh, nonsense, Joe! The captain would be too much of a gentleman. "

"Being a gentleman, sir, is being a gentleman, but duty's duty, andofficers and sailors have to give up everything to that. Last night, whether we was on the watch, or turned in to our hot bunks, every manJack of us felt that the Bun was right, and a bit envious of him, because, poor chap, he would have been safe. They wouldn't have tookhim; but we all of us fully expected to see that boat coming back for usthis morning. But not only aren't there no boat, but the sloop'sslipped away in the night and gone. "

"Where's she gone, then?"

"Well, that's what we don't know, sir, and we don't care. "

"But are you sure, Joe? She may be lying off yonder in the mist. "

"Oh no, she aren't, sir. Two on us have been up right aloft till wecould lay our hands on the main truck; and when you are up there you arelooking right over the fog. It's wonderful how close it lies to thewater. It's all right, sir, and I believe we are safe. Aren't youglad?"

"Of course I am, Joe. "

"I know you are, sir. But just you think what we must be, just aboutfive hundred times as glad as you are, and we are all ready for anythingyou like. What's it to be to-day?"

"Well, I don't think we shall do much. Uncle will consider it too hot. "

"Hot, sir? Not it! Just right. We shan't mind. Fishing, netting, rowing. You tell him not to think about us. It will just warm us up, for most on us had the shivers all night. "

The low mist began to lift soon after Rodd had had his bath, for thelevel rays of the sun began to pierce the grey haze as the great orangeorb slowly rolled up from the depths of ocean, investing it with theloveliest of pearly tints and iridescent hues, while not a speck of sailor the clearly marked lines of topmasts could be seen upon the horizonline. 

"Well, " said the doctor, at breakfast, as Rodd told him what the men hadsaid, "the heat will be very great, but I shouldn't spare myself. If Igave up my researches to-day it would be for the sake of the men. "

"You needn't consider them that way, sir, " said Captain Chubb. "Theywould rather you didn't. But couldn't you do something that would sparemy deck a little?"

"Well, I am afraid that's impossible, Captain Chubb, " said the doctor. 

"Ah, well, sir, " said the captain, with a sigh, "I suppose you must goon; but it seems a pity when everything's so white and clean. "

So the captain's decks suffered all day, and were swabbed clean again, while that evening before the mists began to gather there was a freshsurprise. 

Rodd took it into his head to go up to the main cross-trees with theglass. He had said nothing, but he had some idea as to the possibilityof the sloop coming into sight again, and he had made up his mind if hecould see her in the distance to give Captain Chubb a broad hint, andurge him to press on full sail right through the night. 

It was very glorious, Rodd thought, as he perched himself up aloft onthe cross-trees, after finding the heavy glass very much in his way ashe climbed. 

"It's beautiful up here; but--"

He did not finish his remark to himself, but got his left arm well roundthe mast, adjusted the glass, and began slowly to sweep the horizon. 

He felt in a state of doubt and suspicion, fully expecting that at anymoment the tapering masts of the sloop might slowly creep into the fieldready to damp his hopes, for his feelings were completely on the side ofthe men. But as slowly and carefully he ran the glass along what seemedto be the very edge of the world, his spirits rose. 

"Nothing--nothing, " he kept on muttering to himself. "Oh, how big theworld is, after all! Here we are, just like a speck on the ocean, quitealone, and though there must be thousands of ships and boats sailingabout, not one in sight, and in about another ten minutes all will bebright starlight again--and let's see, I began here, and I've swept thesea right round, and just in time, for before I could go round again orhalf-way it will be quite dark--and--What's that?" he cried excitedly. 

He started violently, and his hands trembled so that he had greatdifficulty in steadying the glass to fix it upon that which had suddenlycaught his eye. 

"Nothing!" he muttered impatiently. "It was my fancy. I made as sureas possible, just as I was going to lower the glass, that I could seethe three masts of the sloop standing right out yonder towards the west. All rubbish and imagination, " he muttered. "I pictured that because itwas what I was afraid of seeing when--Oh-h-h! It wasn't fancy! Thereshe is! Oh, there she is, after all!"

He looked sharply down at the deck, which was occupied only by four ofthe men, the skipper and Uncle Paul being in the cabin. But one ofthese men was Joe Cross, and Rodd chirruped faintly to attract's thesailor's attention. 

"Make out anything, sir?"

"Come up here, Joe, " replied Rodd, in a low tone, and the man sprang tothe ratlines and began rapidly to ascend till he was nearly on a levelwith the occupant of the cross-trees. 

"See a whale spouting, sir? I should have thought it was getting toodark. "

"No, Joe; but I have just made out the sloop with the glass. "

"Nay, sir! Don't say that!" cried the man, in a startled tone. 

"Take the glass, Joe. I am afraid it's true. "

"Oh, murther! as Pat says, " groaned the sailor, as he hurriedly adjustedthe glass and began to sweep the horizon in the direction Rodd pointedout, a few points on the starboard bow. "Can't see nothing, sir. Wereyou sure?"

"Yes, Joe; quite. "

"But it's getting dark too fast, sir. I can make nothing out. If youare right, though, she mayn't have seen us and may be out of sight againby morning. --Ah, I've got her!"

"There, I knew I was right, Joe. "

"Not quite, sir. Yes, I've got her quite plain now, but she's dying outfast. It aren't a man-of-war. It's a two-master of some kind. A bigschooner or a brig. It's all right, sir. There's life in a mussel, after all. My word, though, didn't it bring my heart up into my mouth!"

"Are you sure it's not a three-master, Joe?" cried Rodd joyously. 

"Sartin sure, sir. Why, you talk as frightened like as we poor ladswere. "

"What vessel was it, then?"

"Oh, I don't know what she was, sir. I only know what she warn't. That's enough for us, eh, sir? I say, sir; what weather! Ratherdifferent to what we had in the French port. Looks settled too. Niceand cool the air feels. There, it's only fancy, but it's just as if Icould sniff the land. "

"How far are we away, Joe?" asked Rodd. 

"Long way, sir. But I say, Mr Rodd, sir, I wouldn't say anything downbelow. It'd only skeer the lads and set them thinking all night. "

"But wouldn't you say anything about having seen that ship?"

"Oh, if you like, sir. The skipper ought to know. But I can swear shewarn't a man-of-war, and that's enough for us. Oh, there is theskipper. My word, though, you can hardly see him! Curus, isn't it, howthe mist begins to gather? Pretty good sign we are not so very far offthe shore. Will you hail him, sir, or shall I?"

"You, Joe. "

A brief conversation ensued, question and answer ending by Joe'sdeclaration that he believed it was a brig; and then they descended tothe deck. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

DREAMY. 

Very curious incidents are sometimes invented, but the most extravagantcan be matched by others that have really occurred. 

One of the last things that had been talked about that evening had beenthe vessel of which Rodd had caught a glimpse in the short tropictwilight just as it was being swallowed up by the darkness and mist ofnight. Joe Cross had incidentally said that he believed it was a brig, and that night as Rodd lay half asleep, half wakeful, in his cot, keptfrom finding the customary repose of a tired lad by the heat of thenarrow cabin below, the word brig brought to mind the vessel that had sonearly run upon them in Havre-de-Grace, and in a drowsy stupid way hehad pictured her tall tapering spars, the flapping of her stay-sail, andthe rush of the storm. 

Then all was blank, till all at once it seemed as if time had elapsedand he was picturing the French brig once more, knowing that it was the_Jeanne d'Arc_, though all was darkness and he only caught sight of thevessel now and then, by the flashing of the fort guns, while the roar oftheir reports echoed loudly above the rush of the wind as the bravevessel tacked from side to side of the harbour, striving to reach themouth and escape out to sea. 

It was all very vivid as in a dream. 

Flash went the fort gun, there was the roar of the report, and all wasdarkness, again and again, while somehow--he could not tell how it was--the heat was intense, and Rodd threw up one hand, which came in contactwith the top of his cot with a sharp rap. 

"Bah! It hurts, " muttered the boy; and then dream and reality merged inone, for there was another flash and the roar as if of half-a-dozenguns. 

But the boy was awake now to the fact that he was not dreaming of theescape of the French brig, but far south of the Equator, lying halfstifled in his cot, listening to the roar of a tropic storm, while everynow and then the cabin which he shared with his uncle was lit up by thevivid flashes, which were succeeded by fresh roars. 

"What a storm, " thought Rodd, "and how hot!"

He slipped out of his cot to go and thrust open the cabin window. 

"Hear the thunder, uncle?" he said. 

But it had ceased for the moment, the last peal dying softly away, andfor answer to his question he had only the deep regular breathing of asound sleeper. 

"He must have been tired, " thought the boy, and creeping closer to thecabin window he thrust out his hand to let in more air, but found thewindow wide open as it could be. 

"He must have found out how hot it was and done that himself, " thoughtRodd, as he knelt softly upon the bulkhead to try and breathe the freshair; but it was hot and half suffocating, while the blackness wasintense. One moment there was a faint quivering somewhere above, andjust enough to show him the murkiness of the sea which spread out frombeneath him far away like so much blackened oil touched for a few briefinstants with streaks of gold. 

"Why, there isn't a breath of air, " thought Rodd, and then he startedback, dazzled by the brilliant glare of the lightning, which made himinvoluntarily close his eyes and keep them shut till the terrific crashof thunder, which seemed to burst exactly over his head, had gonerolling away as if its echoes were composed of gigantic cannon ballspassing slowly down metallic tunnels right away into space. 

"That was a startler, " said the boy to himself. "How awful, but howgrand! It's rather hard to think that the danger's in the lightning, and that there is nothing in the thunder to hurt. "

Then once more all was black silence above and below, and all beyond thecabin window seemed to be solid. 

"I never saw a storm like this at home, " thought the boy. "Uncle cansleep!"

There was another brilliant flash, but this time Rodd felt prepared anddid not shrink. He only knelt, gazing out of the stern window, impressed by the grandeur of that which he had seen. 

Behind him he felt that everything in the cabin had been as light asday, but away from him all around he had looked upon a vivid picture, agloriously wondrous cloudscape stretching far above and reflected farbeneath in the smooth, oily, gently heaving sea--a grand vision ofmountains of blue and gold and purple, which quivered before his eyesfor a few moments in such vivid intensity that his eyeballs ached; thenall was black again for a few moments, and then came the deep-toned roaras of hundreds of distant mighty cannons; not a sudden, sharp, metalliccrash as in the last instance, but a deep murmurous intonation whichmade the woodwork of the schooner tremble. 

Rodd felt no fear--nothing but a sense of awe at the grandeur of thestorm, and it was with a feeling of eagerness that he waited for thenext flash. But a minute passed before there was a faint quiveringwhich slightly lit up the sea, to give place to blackness, silence anddarkness. Then there was another faint quivering light that seemed tocome from somewhere behind where he stood, and again he waited for oneof those vivid flashes that should show up the configuration of theclouds shaped in mountain and valley and distant cave. 

And many minutes must have passed, during which time Rodd listened inthe appalling silence for the distant soft and increasing rushing soundof the coming rain, even as he had listened before in far-off Devon tothe coming of some summer storm. 

"There will be wind too, " he thought. "I wonder whether all is madefast aloft; for a storm like this, " he continued, in his ignorance, "can't come without a tremendous wind and a rush of rain. "

His next thought was that he would go on deck and see what the watchwere about; but he hesitated to stir, for the thought of the gorgeouscloudscape he had seen fascinated him and held him to his place. 

"I needn't worry about that, " he thought. "Captain Chubb's sure to beon deck. He wouldn't sleep like we do. If I go and open the cabin doorit will wake uncle up. Hah! It's quivering again. The storm can't beover like this. Now there's another big flash coming. "

He had hardly formed the thought when from quite up in the zenith downinto the depths of the sea the arch of heaven seemed to open out in asharp jagged line of vivid blue light, shutting again instantaneously, and the boy knelt gazing before him in wonder, for there, about a mileaway, with every spar and yard and rope standing out black against theblue light, was the picture--the model, it seemed to him to be--of atall-masted brig sitting motionless upon the water; and then it wasgone. 

"Why, that must have been the one we saw, " thought Rodd, and he strainedhis eyes again as he listened for the roar of the thunder that shouldhave succeeded the vivid zigzag flash of electricity; but it did notcome, and he waited and waited in the darkness in vain, trying to grasphow it could be that a storm should come to an end in so strange andunsatisfactory a way according to his lights, and why there should beneither rain nor wind. 

He waited, trying hard now to pierce the black darkness, but trying invain. 

There was nothing to see, nothing to hear, and in spite of the wonderand awe that had pervaded him, Rodd Harding now behaved like a veryordinary human being, for he yawned, felt sleepy and that he was not sohot as he was before, and thinking that it was no use to stop there anylonger, and that he might as well dress, he crept softly back to his cotand stood thinking again. 

"Can't be anything like morning, " he said to himself, "and I shall beable to see that brig then. Why, I remember now; I was dreaming aboutthe storm at Havre, and that vessel--what was it? The _Jeanne d'Arc_--escaping, and the forts firing at her; and I saw the flashes from theguns. Of course; how absurd! That was the thunder and lightning, and--"

Rodd slipped slowly on to his pillow, yawned again, muttered somethingabout how sleepy he felt, and the next moment he was off as soundly ashis uncle; but only, it seemed to him, to begin dreaming directly afterabout the escaping of the brig, and the storm, mingled with the noiseand the shouting of people ashore, and a heavy bump from somewhere closeat hand; and then the boy was wide awake again, springing up so suddenlyin his cot that it was not his hand but his head that struck with a rapagainst the woodwork, as a voice that he hardly recognised in theconfusion shouted--

"Rodd, boy! Quick--on deck! The schooner's going down!"

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

STRANGE PROCEEDINGS. 

"Is it a wreck, uncle?" panted Rodd. 

"I thought so, boy, " cried Uncle Paul; "but don't talk. Slip on two orthree things. "

He was still speaking, when there was a rush down the cabin stairs, andthe captain shouted--

"Quick, doctor! Your pistols and a gun! We are attacked!"

The words thrilled through Rodd, and the next minute he had seized adouble gun and was ready to follow his uncle and the skipper on deck, where in the faint light of morning he found nearly the whole of thecrew gathered across the after part of the deck, armed with capstan barsfor the moment, while the mate and Joe Cross were rapidly handing roundcutlasses and pikes. The forward part of the schooner was in the handsof strangers, all well-armed; others were climbing over the bows from aboat which was made fast alongside, while hurried orders were beinggiven to them in French by a tall, dark, grey-haired man, sword in onehand, pistol in the other. 

"What's the meaning of this?" panted Uncle Paul to the skipper, whileRodd felt as if he were not yet awake, and suddenly recalled the factthat he had armed himself with a perfectly useless weapon, for in hisexcitement he had forgotten powder flask and bullets, having instead ofthe latter brought a belt containing small shot. 

"Pirates or privateers, sir, " replied the skipper hotly, "but just giveus time. Be smart, my lads. Pikes and cutlasses, and then all togetherwith a will!"

"For heaven's sake let's have no bloodshed, Captain Chubb!" cried UnclePaul, catching the skipper by the arm. 

"Not my wish, sir, " said the captain shortly; "but this is my schoonerwhile I command her, and I'm going to clear this deck. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" came in a low, eager murmur from the men. 

"There, sir, " said the skipper; "you and the lad stand back. Ready, mylads?"

"No, no!" cried Uncle Paul, who saw that the strangers forward, all aswell-armed as the schooner's crew, were eagerly waiting for the order toadvance from their leader, each party being ready to be let slip forwhat might prove to be a desperate encounter. 

Rodd grasped this, and then felt puzzled as he saw a youth of about hisown age suddenly elbow his way to the front to stand beside the leader. 

Suddenly awakened as he had been from sleep, Rodd felt more confusedthan ever, for the sight of the youth, who from his dress seemed to bethe second officer, added to his confusion, though for the moment hecould hardly tell why. 

And this just as Uncle Paul was grasping the skipper's arm and saying--

"Don't be hasty. These cannot be pirates. There must be some mistake. "

"Maybe, sir, but these fellows who have boarded us have made it. Now, sir, once more, stand back and let us clear the deck. They can talkwhen they are back in their boats. "

There was a few moments' silence, each side seeming unwilling to begin, and taking advantage of an apparent hesitancy on the part of the strangeleader, Uncle Paul instead of stepping back raised his hand andadvanced, Rodd springing to his side, while their movement was exactlyfollowed by the chief intruder and the youth who stepped to his side. 

"Now, sir, " cried Uncle Paul firmly, in French. 

"I understand English, " was the reply. 

"I am very glad, " said Uncle Paul. "Now, sir, you see that we arewell-armed and prepared. What is the meaning of this attack?"

"Ah, I am glad, sir, " said the stranger courteously. "Pray keep yourmen back, and I will mine. "

"Tell them to clear off the deck, then, doctor. There must be no talkhere. "

"Be silent, Captain Chubb!" cried Uncle Paul sternly. "We must have nobloodshed. "

"No, sir, " cried his opponent quickly, and in very excellent English. "We are no pirates. I am the captain of that brig, and in urgent needof help. "

"And this is a very strange way of asking for it, sir. "

"Yes, yes, I know, my friend, " cried the other hotly, "but it was forcedupon me by circumstances. I have need of your vessel, and I must haveit at all costs--peacefully if you will, and I am ready to recompenseyou, the owner, for any loss of cargo at your destination which you mayincur; but I must have the use of this little ship. "

"Indeed, sir!" said Uncle Paul, with a peculiar smile. "And if I sayyou cannot have it; what then?"

"Then, sir, " said the stranger haughtily, "you see we are prepared. Ishall be compelled to take it from you by force. "

"Ah-h-h!" came like a low growl of satisfaction from the schooner'screw, and Rodd was conscious of a rather ominous movement on the part ofthe men, who began moistening their hands and taking a firmer grip oftheir weapons. 

Rodd was drinking in this colloquy, which filled him with wildexcitement; but all the time he kept glancing from the young officer whostood sword in hand to the brig he had seen over-night and again thrownup by the storm, still lying about the same distance away from theschooner, and then with his head suddenly seeming to become clearer hecried out aloud--

"Uncle, those are the officers we saw at Havre, and that's the brig thatescaped. "

"You--you were at Havre!" cried the elder officer excitedly; and hestepped closer to Rodd, his young companion, watchful and on the alert, following his example and keeping close as if to defend him from anyattempted seizure. 

"Yes, yes, of course, " cried Rodd, without looking at the speaker, hiseyes being fixed upon the young man. 

"Then this is a French vessel?" cried the officer. 

"No, sir, " replied Uncle Paul. "It is my schooner, and I am not inpursuit of your brig. "

"Why, it is!" cried Rodd suddenly, as he dropped the butt of hisunloaded gun with a thud upon the deck. "I thought I knew you again!--Uncle, this is the young French prisoner I helped to escape fromDartmoor. "

Before he could say another word the sword the young Frenchman helddropped from his hand to the extent of its gold-laced knot, and toRodd's confusion a pair of thin arms were flung about his neck and hewas held tightly to the young stranger's breast. 

"Oh, _mon ami_! _mon ami_! My dear friend!" he cried. "Do we meet oncemore like this? _Mon pere, c'est le jeune Anglais qui nous a sauvesdans cet affreux temps_. "

"Moray!" cried the officer, looking stunned. "Is this true?"

"True? Oh yes! Oh yes!" cried the lad, speaking now in English. "You, young angler, fisherman, this is my dear father. "

To Rodd's false shame and confusion, he had to submit to anotherembrace, for before he could realise what was about to happen theofficer had followed his son's example and not only embraced him, butkissed him on both cheeks. 

"Well, this is a queer set out, " said Uncle Paul. "Then you are the twofellows who broke into my bedroom and helped yourselves to my purse?"

"Ha, ha! Yes, my friend, " cried the officer, laughing; "but you andyour brave son will forgive. We were poor exiles and prisoners fightingfor our liberty, and you will let us make amends. "

"Oh, well, you did, " said Uncle Paul bluffly; "but that is no excuse forturning pirates and trying to rob me of my ship at the point of thesword. "

"No, no, " cried the officer hastily, "but you are a brave Englishman, and you and your son--"

"No, sir, my nephew. "

"--will forgive. One moment; let me think!" cried the officer, as hedragged his hand from out of his sword-knot and thrust the blade intoits sheath. "Yes, yes, let me think. I have it, Morny, " and turning tohis followers he uttered a short sharp command which resulted in his menswinging themselves over the side and entering the two boats in whichthey had effected the surprise of the schooner. 

At their first movement in retreat the skipper's crew burst into a loudjeering laugh, and made as if to rush forward; but at a word fromCaptain Chubb they were silenced and held back. 

"I thank you, sir, " said the French officer, raising his hat to theskipper. "It was well done. Now let me speak; let me explain, " and helooked from Rodd to his uncle and back, and then gave a glance at theskipper, while the two lads stood hand in hand. 

"It was like this, " he said; "you saw us at Havre that stormy day, andof course my brig nearly crushed into your vessel. Then we lay atanchor close together till that order came down from a vile insensateGovernment to seize upon my vessel and my crew. It was the work ofenemies, and I had to set sail at once, or once more my son and I wouldhave had to pass years in the inside of a prison, not as culprits, monsieur, but as honourable gentlemen, French nobles, whose only crimewas fidelity to one, "--and as he spoke he stopped short, uttering theword _one_ with grave reverence, as he took off his hat--an examplefollowed by his son. "Well, gentlemen, I cannot explain to you. Thereis not time. Only this--you saw that I made what you English call adash for it--for freedom. It was like madness, but we said we wouldrather trust the storm than the French Government. They sent boats fullof soldiers to seize us, but we kept on. They opened fire upon us fromthe forts, but we did not shrink. "

"Yes, yes, we saw all, " cried Uncle Paul, "and a very brave dash youmade. "

Captain Chubb, who had listened, frowning heavily the while, uttered alow grunt. 

"And a very fine bit of seamanship, sir, " he said, and the officerturned to him and raised his hat. 

"It was desperate, sir, " he said gravely, "and I knew that I was riskingthe lives of my dear son and all on board; but no man there shrank. Well, sir, my story is long, but I must excuse myself for my conducthere. It is enough. We battled with the storm, as you saw, andescaped. "

"I always said you had gone down, " grunted Captain Chubb. 

"No, sir. We escaped with but one wound, and that was to my poorvessel; and since the night when we left Havre-de-Grace upon my missionit has been one long struggle, as you would say, for life. "

"Indeed, sir?"

"Yes, " said the officer sadly, and he pointed over the side towardswhere the beautiful duck-like brig with its taper spars sat the smoothsea, but with a steady stream of water trickling down her side. "Mychief officer and my men have worked in every way they knew long daysand weeks; but it is of no use. I would not give up the great objectupon which I have come, but it is forced upon us at last that beforemany days have gone over our heads that vessel will lie far down in thedepths of the ocean. Do you not see how low she is in the water?"

"Eh?" cried the skipper eagerly. "Eh? I thought she was low down withcargo. You've sprung a leak?"

"A cannon ball crashed through her, sir, and we have never been able tomaster that leak. "

"Then why in the name of thunder didn't you put into port?" cried theskipper contemptuously. 

The officer smiled. 

"I cannot explain, " he said. "There was not time. I had work to do--atask that I had promised to fulfil, and we held on till it was forcedupon me that I must get another vessel or stand with my men upon thedeck and let our brave _Roi Dagobert_ sink beneath our feet. "

"That wasn't her name at Havre, " said the downright skipper. 

"No, sir, " said the officer, smiling; "but were we not pursued? Wouldnot news of our escape be sent far and wide? We were obliged to assumeanother disguise. The _Jeanne d'Arc_, we said, sank at Havre. That isthe _Roi Dagobert_ floating still; but for how long?"

"I don't quite see that, " said the skipper bluntly. 

"No?" said the officer. "Monsieur has never passed long years as aprisoner of war. "

"Well, no, " grunted the skipper. "Maybe that might have made me a bitshifty. "

"There, sir, " said the officer, turning now to Uncle Paul; "that is myexcuse for this desperate venture--this attempt to seize your vessel. My business is urgent. I am a nobleman, a count of the French Empire, and I offer you any recompense you like to name if you will give up tome your vessel, leaving me full command for a week--a month--such timeas I may need. "

"And if I say, sir, that I cannot accede to what you must own are wilddemands, " said Uncle Paul, "what then?"

"What then?" said the officer slowly. 

"You mean that you will attack us, and the strongest wins?"

The officer was silent, and he turned his eyes upon his son, who leftRodd and took his extended hands, both standing silent for a fewmoments. 

"No, sir, " he said at last, slowly and gravely. "Neither my son nor Ican raise our hands against those who gave us liberty, almost life. Morny, my boy, we will do our duty to the last, and try to keep the poor_Roi Dagobert_ afloat. She may live long enough, even as she has keptafloat so long. If she sinks with us--well, my boy, we shall have doneour duty to him we serve, and our names may not be forgotten in ourcountry's rolls. "

There was silence for a few moments, which was broken at last by Rodd. 

"But I say, uncle, " he cried eagerly, "you always said you had plenty oftime, and--"

The young officer turned quickly upon the speaker with an eagerquestioning look, but before Uncle Paul could speak, Captain Chubb tookoff his cap and stood scratching his head in the now bright morningsunshine. 

"Look here, Mr Count, " he said; "I am only a rough Englishman, and alot of what you have been saying about mission and that sort of thing isjust so much Greek to me. But do you mean to tell me that you got aball through the bottom of your smart brig that night in Havre, and havenever been able to stop the leak?"

"Yes, yes; that is so, my friend. My chief officer has tried everythingthat he could do, but we could not get at the place. And look yonder!The pump has been kept going ever since. "

"Well, sir, " continued Captain Chubb, "I don't know your first mate, andI don't want to say hard things of a man who could take that there smartcraft out of the French harbour as he did that night. He is a very finesailor, sir. But if I aren't got a carpenter on board this schooner aswould give him ninety out of a hundred and then beat him, withoutbringing to work the little bit I knows myself, why, I'm a Dutchman, andthat I aren't. "

"Ah!" cried the Count excitedly. "You think--"

"No, sir; I don't say I think anything without having a look. But asthere don't seem to be any fighting going on, and you and the doctorhere turns out to be old friends, why, before you talk of throwing upyour job and taking to your boats--which would be a much more sensiblething to do than going down with colours flying when there warn't noneed, and setting aside getting some fresh water and provisions intoyour boats and making for a place on the West Afric coast--I should justlike to come on board your craft with my man and see what mightn't bedone by stopping that there leak. "

"My friend!" cried the Count excitedly, and he caught the skipper by thehands. 

"Well, sir, " said the skipper, with a grim smile, "if you are Mr Rodd'sand the doctor's friend and wants to be friends with me, why, Tom Chubbaren't the man to say no and want to keep enemies. So there's my fin. But look 'ere, you know, " he continued, as he gave the Count's thinwhite hand a tremendous grip, "yours was a very queer way of coming uponus, and might have meant some nasty marks on my white decks. You can'thelp being a Frenchman, but do you know what an Englishman would havedone? He'd have just come here civil like and said, `Look here, strangers, we have sprung a leak, and we are going down. Come and lendus a hand at the pumps. '"

"Ah, yes, of course, " said the Count warmly. "It is what I should havedone. "

"And you would like me to come aboard and see if there's anything we cando?"

"Yes, yes!" cried the Count eagerly. 

"All right, then, sir, " said the skipper coolly; "I am sailing under thedoctor's orders, and if he's willing, I'm your man. "

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

A SHIP SURGEON. 

"Well, Mr Rodd, sir, " said Captain Chubb, as he and the lad stoodwatching the regular dip of oars in the brig's two boats as they glidedback over the tranquil sea to where their vessel lay motionless in thecalm. "Well, Mr Rodd, sir, don't you wish you'd been born aFrenchman?"

"No, " cried the boy sharply. "I am thankful I was born English. "

"And so you ought to be, my lad. Of all the crackbrained, sentimental, outrageous chaps I ever met there's none of them comes up to aFrenchman. "

"Oh, you are too bad, Captain Chubb. "

"Too bad, eh? Why, aren't they always kicking up a dust and makingrevolutions, cutting off their kings' and queens' heads, and then goingto war with all the world, with their Napoleons and Bonapartes and allthe rest of them? Call themselves men!"

"Why, you are as bad as uncle, " cried Rodd merrily. "You and he oughtto be always the best of friends. But, if you speak fairly you must ownthat they are very gallant men. "

"Gallant men!" cried the skipper scornfully. "I don't call them men. Icall them monkeys! Men! Butchers, as cut off the head of theirbeautiful Queen Mary What-you-may-call-it, and then after shedding bloodlike that, sending no end of poor women who never did them a bit of harmto that guillotine. I'd be ashamed of myself, Mr Rodd, to take theirpart. "

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Rodd warmly. "I say that the Count and his sonhave proved themselves to be very brave fellows. Why, you owned as muchyourself about the way in which they escaped with the brig. "

"Oh, that was right enough, " grumbled the skipper. 

"I am not going to deny, " continued Rodd, "that there are plenty ofhorrible wretches amongst the French. And that Revolution was awful;but haven't we plenty of bad men amongst the English?"

The skipper chuckled. 

"Well, yes, we have had some pretty tidy ones, if you come to read yourhistories. But I don't know so much about those chaps being brave. Itwas a very clever bit of seamanship, mind you, that taking the brig outin the teeth of the storm with hardly room to tack. I am not a badpilot in my way when I like to try, but I will be honest over it; Idaren't have tried that job. It was a very clean thing. But look here, my lad. It's no use for you to try and crack that up, because him whodid it must have been as mad as a hatter, and between ourselves, that'swhat I think that Count is. "

"Oh, fudge, captain!" cried Rodd. "No more mad than you or I. "

"Well, I can answer for myself, my lad, " said the skipper, with achuckle, "but that's more than I'd do for you, for you do some preciousoutrageous things sometimes. "

"I?" cried Rodd. 

"Yes, you, my lad. "

"What a shame!" cried Rodd indignantly. "I defy you to prove that Ihave done anything that you could call mad. Now tell me something. What have you ever known me do that wasn't sensible?"

"Oh, that's soon done, " cried the skipper. "Didn't you go and gammonthe soldiers when they were after the escaped French prisoners? Don'tyou call that a mad act? Fighting against the laws of your country likethat!"

"Ah, well, I suppose I oughtn't to have helped them, captain; but Icouldn't help it. "

"No, sir, and that's what the Frenchmen would say. Now, what in theworld is that chap after, with his mission, as he calls it? What doeshe mean by coming rampaging out south with a hole in the bottom of hisbrig and the pumps going straight on to keep the water down? Would anyone but a lunatic go risking his crew and his vessel like that?"

"Well, it does seem rather wild, " replied Rodd thoughtfully. 

"Wild? Well, that's only your way of saying he's stick, stark, staringmad. And here he's been out weeks and weeks, knowing as he says thathis brig was sinking, when he could have put in at Gib, or the Azores, or Las Palmas, or brought up in one of the West Coast rivers, where hecould run up on the tidal mud, careened his vessel, and set his ship'scarpenter to work to clap patches upon her bottom outside and in. Don'tyou call that mad?"

"No. He might have had reasons for not doing so. "

"Ah, that's right, sir; argufy. You young scholarly chaps who have beento big schools and got your heads chock-full of Latin and Greek, you arebeggars to argufy--chopping logic, I suppose you calls it--and I givein. You could easily beat me at that; just as easily as I could turnyou round my little finger at navigation. But I'll have one more go atyou; I says that there French Count is mad. "

"And I say he is not, " said Rodd, "only a brave, eccentric nobleman whomay have a good many more reasons for what he does than we know. "

"All right, youngster. I give you my side. Now that's yours. Now, just answer me this. Warn't it the crack-brainedest bit ofask-you-to-go-and-borrow-a-new-strait-waistcoat-to-put-me-in sort ofa job for him to bring his two boat-loads of men, like ablack-flag-and-cross-boned Paul Jones sort of a pirate, aboard ourschooner in the dark, thinking he's going to take possession of it touse instead of his own brig, when if he'd had any gumption he might havemanaged to patch her up, and--Here, I say, I can't go on talking likethis before breakfast, my lad. I must have my bowl of coffee and a bitof salt pork and biscuit before I say another word. "

"Oh, very well, " cried Rodd merrily. "I see we shan't agree; and wedon't want to quarrel, do we, captain?"

"Quarrel? Not us, my lad! It takes two to do that, and we knows oneanother too well. "

"Then look here, " cried Rodd, "you are taking it very coolly and talkingabout breakfast; aren't you going to order the boat out and go aboardthe brig at once?"

"I aren't a-going to do anything till I have had my breakfast, " said thecaptain. "They've spoilt my morning snooze, but I aren't going to letthem spoil my morning meal, nor my lads' neither. "

"But it's urgent, " cried Rodd. "Suppose while you are thinking ofeating and drinking the brig goes down?"

"Yah! She won't go down. If she's floated for weeks like that she'llkeep her nose above water while I swallow two bowls of coffee. I can'twork without something to keep me going. Let them pump for anotherhalf-hour, and then we'll go. "

"We!" said Rodd sharply. "That means me too?"

"Oh, ah, if you like to come; only we shall have to keep a sharplook-out. "

"What, for fear it should sink under us?"

"Nay, I didn't mean that, my lad. I mean, you see, we are dealing witha lunatic. "

"Captain!" cried Rodd indignantly. 

"Ay, but we are, and there's no knowing what sort of games fellows likethat will be up to. I mean to give the mate strict orders to load allthree guns, and if he sees the Count coming off again with his two boatsfull of men to take possession while he's got us tight, to sink themwithout mercy. Ah, here's the stooard, welcome, as you might say, asthe flowers in spring. Come along, my lad, and let's lay in stores. "

In spite of his words and deliberate way of proceeding, Captain Chubbhad made his arrangements so that within half-an-hour of going down tobreakfast he had the schooner's boat lowered down with Joe Cross, fivemen, and the carpenter, who had already handed into the boat what hecalled his bag of tricks, the said tricks being composed of an adze, saws, chisels, augers, and nails, and very shortly afterwards the oarswere dipping, and with Uncle Paul and Rodd in the stern-sheets they weregliding over the glittering sea and rapidly shortening the distancebetween them and the beautiful brig, which won a string of encomiumsfrom the skipper as they drew near. 

"Yes, she is a beauty, " he said. "It would be a pity to let her godown. Look at her lines, and the way she's rigged. If I wanted to saila brig I wouldn't wish for a better; but then, you see, I don't. She'sa bit low in the water, though, and no mistake. Well, we shall see; weshall see. "

The Count and his son were eagerly awaiting their coming, and welcomedthem warmly as they mounted the side, while, casting off his show ofindifference, the skipper cast an admiring glance round the deck of thebrig, and then gruffly exclaimed--

"Now then, sir, I want your bo'sun. But look here, can he parleyEnglish?"

"No, " said the Count, "but my son and I will interpret everything youwish to hear. "

"I don't know as I want to hear anything, sir, " growled the skipper. "Iwant to see for myself, and after that mebbe I shall want to give a feworders, which I will ask you to have carried out. "

"Yes; everything you wish shall be done directly. "

"Umph!" grunted the skipper, looking round. "Pump rigged, and two mentrying to keep the water under. Ought to be four. "

"Yes, of course, " cried the Count, and he turned to give an order; butCaptain Chubb clapped his hand upon his arm. 

"Hold hard, " he said. "They'll do for a bit. Now then, I want to gobelow and sound the well. "

The Count and his son led the way below, the French crew standing aloofand displaying the discipline of a man-of-war, no man leaving his placewhile the skipper made all the investigations he required, and then cameup on deck with his mahogany face more deeply lined with wrinkles thanbefore. 

"Well, captain, " said Uncle Paul, while Rodd, who had kept close to hisyoung friend of the Dartmoor stream, eagerly listened for what theirexpert had to say. 

"Well, sir, " he said, at last, as he took out a little seal-skin bag anddeliberately helped himself to a little ready-cut scrap of pigtailtobacco, "your craft's in a bad way, and if something isn't done prettysmart she'll be down at the bottom before long. "

"Yes, yes, " cried the Count impatiently, "but we have tried everything, and it is impossible to get at the leak. "

"Hah! Tried everything, have you, sir?"

"Yes, yes, " cried the Count. "Some of my brave fellows have beenhalf-drowned in diving, trying to plug from inside, using yards to forcebags of oakum into the holes. "

"Yes, " said the skipper. "The ball went right through, I suppose?"

"Yes, yes, " cried the Count, and Rodd noted that he was having hard workto master his impatience and annoyance at the skipper's annoyinglydeliberate treatment of their urgent needs. 

"So I suppose, " said the skipper coolly, "but mebbe you haven't donequite all; leastwise I should like to try my little plan, and if itdon't answer, why, you won't be any worse off than you are now; and whenI give it up as a bad job, why, you will have to take to your boats andwe shall have to find room for you aboard the schooner. Now then, please, you will just order two more men at that pump, and four moreready to take their places so as to keep on pumping hard. "

"Yes, yes, " cried the Count eagerly. "What next?"

"Order up what spare sails you've got from the store-room, and a fewcoils of new line. "

The Count gave his orders quickly, and his men went off to carry themout. 

"Good, " said the skipper coolly. "That's smart. "

"What next?" cried the Count. 

"Well, sir, as quickly as I can, I want to do something to lighten theship. "

"No; I must protest!" cried the Count excitedly. "You are going tothrow the guns overboard?"

"Humph!" grunted the captain. "Who said so? I didn't. Nay, that'd bea pity. I wouldn't do that till the very last. "

"Ah!" sighed the Count, as if deeply relieved. 

"Well, the next thing is, sir, just you leave me and my men alone andlet yours look on till I want their help. "

The Count was silent, and all looked on whilst in obedience to theskipper's orders the English sailors, led by the carpenter, set busilyto work, seized upon the new spare sails that were brought up on deck, and cast loose the coils of fresh hemp line that were placed ready. Then with the skipper putting in a word here and there, resulting in thelines being attached to the corners of the largest square-sail, theselatter were seized by a couple of the men, who dragged the sail forwardas the brig glided very gently along, for it was nearly calm, and thenpassing the new sail deftly beneath the bowsprit, two of the menclimbing out and seeming to cling with their feet to the bobstay untillittle by little they had got the edge right beneath the stay. Thenwhile their mates at the corners helped at the lines, they passed downthe sail right into the sea till they had lowered it to its full extentand they could do no more, save once or twice when they hung down fromthe stay and gave the canvas, which was slowly growing saturated, athrust or two with the foot where it seemed disposed to hitch againstthe brig's keel. 

And now the skipper took his post upon the bowsprit and gave his ordersby word or sign to the men who governed the movement of the great squareof canvas by means of the lines attached to the corners, the two at thefore corners of the sail getting outside the bulwarks, barefooted, towalk along the streak, and hauling just as much as was necessary to dragthe sail right beneath the keel, their two messmates preparing tofollow, and under the captain's guidance keeping all square and exact inthe effort to get the keel to act as the dividing line to mark theoblong into two exact portions. 

It was very slow work, for the canvas was stiff and moved unwillinglydownward beneath the keel; but after a time it began to yield to thesteady drag of the ropes upon the two fore corners, and, once started, progress began to be faster. For, so to speak, the brig began to help, sailing as it were gently more and more over the canvas, till at the endof about half-an-hour it was in the position at which the skipper hadaimed, having while below in the hold pretty well marked down theposition of the two holes made by the shot from the fort. These wereabout amidships, some few feet, as far as he could make out, on eitherside of the keel, one naturally being much higher than the other in thediagonal course taken by the heavy ball. 

At last he called to his men to halt, and took off his cap, to standthinking, the position now being that the sail was drawn right under thebrig, and the sailors at the four corners were holding on tight toprevent the vessel from sailing clear. 

So far not a word had been uttered by the Frenchmen, all of whom hadstood clear or mounted the rigging or deck-house, so as to give theEnglishmen ample room; but now in the silence Rodd advanced to theskipper eagerly, to say--

"Are you sure you have got the canvas well over the holes?"

Captain Chubb made no reply, but stood with his cap in his left handgazing aft, and then he moved his right arm two or three times, as ifforming an imaginary line through the brig's hull. 

"Did you hear me, captain?" said Rodd eagerly. "Are you sure you havegot the sail over the holes?"

"No, " granted the skipper. "Are you?"

"No; but I thought--"

"Yes, my lad; so did I. You thought we ought to get the sail in theright place. "

"Yes, " said Rodd. 

"Well, then, now, my lad, I should be much obliged to you if you'd tellme which is exactly the right place. "

Rodd looked at him in despair. 

"Thank you, my lad, " said the skipper dryly. "I am much obliged. Butall right, Mr Rodd; you can't tell, and I can't tell. We know that theball that came from the fort must have gone downwards a bit, so that itwent out from lower than where it went in; but there's no knowingwhether she was hit from starboard or from larboard, and that's whereI'm bothered. But never say die. I think we will make this bit ofcanvas fast now, for I'm pretty sure of one thing; it will be a plaisterfor one hole if it isn't for the other. "

"But look here, captain, " cried Rodd. 

"What now?"

"Won't the water run under the canvas just the same as it did before?"

"No, my lad, it won't; and I'll tell you the reason why when we havedone. Of course you know I am not going to stop all the water fromcoming in below, but if I can get it checked a bit so that they can keepit down easy with one man at the pump instead of two, she won't go tothe bottom just yet, and they will have time enough to get into port toset the carpenter at work. "

"Then you won't let our carpenter try to stop the holes?"

"No, my lad. You see, he never learned to be a fish, so that he couldwork under water; and though he's a bit of a crab in his way, I don'tthink he could manage it for all that. Now I'm ready to go on. Come, my lads, put your backs into it and haul them sheets tight. Here, master, let two of your men go to each corner and help my lads. Alltogether as hard as they can!" shouted the skipper, and the Countquickly translated his order. 

"That's right! Haul away, my lads!" shouted the skipper. "That newcanvas won't give. Harder! Harder! Now then, one more--all youknow!--Make fast!"

"Excellent! Superb!" cried the Count, as the men ceased from makingfast the ropes, which were brought over the bulwarks and passed roundthe belaying pins. "Do you think that will stop the leak?"

"Maybe yes, sir; maybe no. If it don't do it we will put anotherplaister on, and another, and another. You have got plenty of sparesails and rope, and when we have used all yours I dare say we can findsome more in the schooner. Now then, set your men going at that pump, and rig up another as quick as you can. "

One pump began to clank heavily at once, and a short time after anotherwas at work, and the clear bright water began to sparkle out of thescuppers, while, moved as it were by the same spirit, the French crewburst into a shrill involuntary cheer. 

"How can I ever thank you, captain?" cried the Count, while his sonsnatched at Rodd's hand. 

"Ah, I haven't done yet, sir, " said the skipper coolly. "This is only atry. "

"Oh, it's grand, " cried the French lad, clinging to Rodd's arm. "Youhave saved our ship. "

"Don't you holloa till you are out of the wood, young fellow, " said theskipper, as he heard the words. "Now, Mr Rodd, sir, what was it youwanted to know?"

"Why the water will not still rim in underneath the canvas. "

"Only because of this, my lad. Aren't they pumping the water out now asfast as ever they can?"

"Yes, " cried Rodd; "but more will run in. "

"Yes, my lad, and as it runs in won't the weight of the water outsidepush the canvas closer and closer in round the leak?"

"Yes, of course, " cried Rodd. "I didn't think of that. And as theregets less inside it will seem to suck the canvas closer to. "

"Quite right, my lad. That's about the way it works; and now we havegot to wait for about an hour before we can know whether we have gotboth holes covered, or only one. "

"Wait for an hour?" cried Rodd. 

"Well, perhaps, before we are sure; but I dare say I shall be going downand sounding the well a time or two before that. "

But long before the hour had elapsed the skipper found that though thewater in the brig had subsided to a certain extent, one of the holesmust be still uncovered, and he began at once to repeat his proceedings, coming to the conclusion that one of the bullet-holes was beyond thereach of the canvas. This time, after all was drawn tight, half-an-hour's pumping proved that his surmises were correct, and theskipper smiled with satisfaction as the Count and his men cheered themin delight on finding after a good deal of pumping that there was a veryperceptible diminution of the water in the hold. 

"It is superb, and so simple, " cried the Count to Uncle Paul; "but Ifeel humbled, sir. Why could not our French sailors have been able todo this?"

"Well, " said Uncle Paul good-humouredly, "the only reason I can give isthat they were not English. "

"That's it, sir, " said the skipper. "You have hit the right nail on thehead. But look here, Mr Count--I don't know your name. "

"Des Saix, " said the Count, smiling. 

"Look here, sir; this is nothing to make a fuss about. It will keep youafloat while the weather's fine, but just come a rough time, those sailswill be ripped off as easily as pocket-handkerchiefs. Besides, theywill hinder your sailing no end. "

"Ah, that is bad, " said the Count, changing countenance. 

"Oh no, not it. There's worse disasters than that at sea. "

"But will it not be possible for the carpenters to stop the leaks?"

"No, sir; not unless you do what I say. "

"Ah! What is that?"

"Run your craft up one of the rivers to where you can careen on the mad, and then a few hours between tides will be enough to put everythingstraight. "

"Is there no other way?" asked the Count. 

"Only downwards, sir, " cried the skipper; and the French lad glancedquestioningly at Rodd, who shook his head. 

"No, " said the boy, almost in a whisper. "I don't think there is anyother way. He is quite right. "

After another hour's pumping, the skipper gave out his intention ofgoing back to the schooner; but the Count would not hear of it. Hebegged and implored Uncle Paul to give him their company at thebreakfast he was having prepared, and after a little hesitation thedoctor gave way, and suggested to the skipper that they should leavetheir departure till late in the afternoon, when a far better opinioncould be given of the state of the brig. 

"What do you say, squire?" said the skipper, looking at Rodd. 

"Oh yes, let's stay!" And his impulsive young French friend grasped himby the wrist. 

"Very well, gentlemen, I have only one thing to say, for I don't supposethe schooner will sail away and leave us behind. Let them call itdinner, and I'll stop. I aren't been in the habit of eating mybreakfast at two o'clock in the day. "

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

THE COUNT CAN'T FIND WORDS. 

That afternoon, after what had proved to be a very friendly, pleasantbreakfast, through which nothing could have been more courteous andhospitable than the conduct of the Count and his son towards those withwhom they had become so strangely intimate, the skipper hurried the endof the meal by suggesting that he should once more sound the well. 

They went on deck at once, to find both pumps were being keptenergetically going, the half-dozen men from the schooner taking theirturns in the heartiest way, a general fraternisation having taken place, while on seeing the result of the skipper's examination, the delight ofthe Count and his son seemed unbounded. 

"There you are, then, sir, " said the skipper, in answer to a look fromthe doctor, "and now we will leave you to it. "

"And I suppose, " said Uncle Paul, "that you will have no hesitation, sir, in following Captain Chubb's advice?"

"And making for the mouth of some river, " said the Count, glancing athis son, "to get the brig ashore, so as to repair her?"

"Exactly, " said Uncle Paul. "You must see that there is nothing elsethat you can do. "

"Nothing else that I can do, " said the Count slowly, and Rodd gave him awondering glance, for the skipper's remarks about the brig's owner beingout of his mind came to his memory. "You intend to cruise about here, then, Dr Robson?"

"Here or anywhere, " was the reply. "Probably here until I seem to haveexhausted the natural history specimens that I can collect. "

"Yes, " said the Count, gazing fixedly at his son, "until you haveexhausted the natural history specimens that you can collect. "

He spoke in a curious dreamy way as if he were thinking hard, while Roddcoloured a little as he saw that the young Frenchman was gazing at himfixedly, for once more he could not help thinking of the skipper'swords. 

"Do you know of a place that would be likely, doctor?" said the Count. "I mean a river that we could sail up into shallow water, if we were sofortunate as to reach one without sinking first. "

"Not I, " said the doctor, "but my captain here has cruised along thiscoast in by-gone days, and he tells me that it would be easy enough tofind inlet after inlet, and deltas with streams, running up through themuddy mangrove swamps. "

"But then we might never reach the shore, " said the Count slowly--"notwith the brig--in spite of your kindly, I may say brotherly aid. "

Rodd felt that the Count's son was still gazing at him searchingly, buthe did not turn his head, for the doctor began speaking at once. 

"Really, my dear sir, " he said almost curtly, "national dislike seems toexist to a great extent amongst your countrymen. Do you really think weEnglish should be such barbarians as to sail away and leave a crippledship to its fate?"

"No, no, no, doctor!" cried the Count warmly. "But how could I be sograsping as to ask you, full of your scientific pursuits as you are, tostand by us till we can reach the shore in safety?"

"You would not ask it, sir, " said the doctor warmly. "There would be noneed. Of course my schooner will stand by you, ready to give you helpuntil your brig is once more fit for sea. "

"Forgive me, doctor!" cried the Count eagerly. 

"There is nothing to forgive, sir, " replied the doctor, "only I think Imay say that saving in times of war there is no such thing asnationality amongst those who go to sea. My experience is that they arealways brethren in times of distress. "

The Count held out his hand, which was warmly grasped, while the youngFrench ex-prisoner looked at Rodd with eyes that seemed to speakvolumes. 

At this moment the skipper gave a grunt of satisfaction and broke in. 

"There's plenty of choice, gentlemen, " he said. "I'd venture to say Icould find you the mouths of a dozen sluggish rivers up which you couldgo with the tide as far as you liked, and then moor our vessels to theforest trees, easily finding places close in shore where the tide as itwent out would leave the brig here softly in the mud ready for careeningover in a cradle where she wouldn't strain or open a single seam; andthe doctor here being willing, I'll promise to take the job in hand andmake the brig's bottom as sound as ever it was, even if we have to stripoff a little copper from along the top streak, where it isn't so muchwanted, so as to put new plates where the damaged ones have been. "

"I shall be only too glad, Count, " said the doctor; "and now I think wewill get back to the schooner, and Captain Chubb here will shape hiscourse somewhere to the south-east, till within the next few days wenear the coast, when he will select a suitable place for his purpose. "

"I cannot find words, " said the Count, in a husky voice. 

"Don't try, " said the doctor. 

"No, but--er, "--continued the Count, in rather a hesitating tone, "youdo mean to keep cruising about here--and farther south or west?"

"Don't you give that another thought, " said the doctor frankly. "Theschooner is my own, and almost any portion of the ocean or the shoreoffers attractions to me and my nephew. We can find interest anywhere. I only hope that you will not find our society dull. "

The Count made a gesture, and then, after a word or two to the skipper, the latter gave his men orders, and they took their places in the boat. 

It was then that the Count's son, who had been very silent for sometime, looking at Rodd as if longing to speak, suddenly turned andwhispered something to his father, who replied with a comprehensivegesture, and the lad immediately approached the doctor. 

"It will be hours yet, sir, before it is dark, and I have so much Ishould like to say to your nephew. Can he not stay till evening, andthen our boat shall bring him to your vessel? You will not, " hecontinued playfully, turning to Rodd, "be afraid of going down?"

"My nephew is at liberty to do as he pleases, " replied the doctorfrankly. "What do you say, Rodd?"

"Oh, I want to stay, uncle. I should like to hear all about theescape. "

A few minutes later the two lads were leaning together over the railwatching the departing boat, and chatting together as if they were oldschoolfellows who had met again after a long separation, Rodd delightedwith his companion, and disposed to feel disappointed in himself lestthe refined, polished young officer--one, evidently, of the _hautenoblesse_--should look down upon him as a rough, rather boorish youngEnglishman. 

Somehow that evening, with its rapid change from glowing sunset light topurple violet darkness, seemed wonderfully quick in coming, and as thebrig's well-manned boat grazed against the schooner's stern and Roddturned in climbing up the side to hang by his left hand and extend hisright, the feeling of inferiority melted away in the young Frenchman'swarm grasp, as the latter said--

"I suppose we shall be sailing very slowly till we reach the shore, andI want to see more of you. I shall come and fetch you first thing inthe morning. Don't say anything; you must come. _Au revoir_!"

The brig's boat pushed off as soon as Rodd had swung himself on deck, and as it glided away into the soft darkness with the regularly handledoars dipping up from the surface of the sea what seemed to be like somuch lambent liquid gold, suggesting to Rodd as he gazed after his newfriend that the stars might have been melting all day in the torrid sun, and that this was their pale golden light floating upon the sea, a handwas laid upon his shoulder. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

THE DOCTOR PAINTS PICTURES. 

"Back again, then, Rodd!"

"Oh yes, uncle. Did you think me long?"

"So long, my boy, that I was thinking of sending the boat to fetch you, for fear you should be converted into a Frenchman. Hang them all! HowI do hate them and their nasty, smooth, polished ways!"

"Oh, uncle, you don't!" cried the boy indignantly. "I do, sir. Howdare you contradict me! And I won't have you getting too fond of thatFrench boy. He and his father set me thinking about old Bony, and assoon as I begin thinking about Bony I have a nasty taste in my mouth. --Well, how did you get on?"

"I had a most delightful afternoon, uncle. Young Morny--let's see, he'sViscount Morny--"

"Viscount grandmother!" snapped out the doctor. "Anybody can be aviscount in France if he's got an income of a few hundred francs--francsin France of common silver. They rank with golden guineas in your grandold home. "

"Oh, well, I don't know, uncle I only know that he's the nicest fellow Iever met. "

"Gush!" cried the doctor. "I won't have it, Rodd. I won't have youmaking too much of these French people. I don't like them. "

"But you don't know them, uncle. Both the Count and his son are themost gentlemanly men I ever met. "

"The most gentlemanly men you ever met!" cried Uncle Paul mockingly. "Nice puppy you are to set yourself up for a judge! Very gentlemanly, to come in the dark with two boat-loads of savage-looking buccaneers toseize our schooner! And they would, too, if it hadn't been for CaptainChubb's courage. "

"Oh, uncle, don't be unreasonable. The poor fellows were desperate. Suppose you had been in such a position as they were. "

"I am not going to suppose anything of the sort, sir, " cried the doctorindignantly; "and look here, Rodney, I will not have you setting up yourfeathers like the miserable young cockerel you are, and beginning tocrow at me, just as if you were full grown. It's growing unbearable, Rodney, and I won't have it, sir. I am very much displeased with you, and you had better be off to your bunk at once before we come to an openquarrel. It is too much, sir, and if your poor mother were alive andcould hear you talking like this she'd--she'd--she'd--there, I don'tknow what she wouldn't say. "

"I do, " said the boy. 

"What would she say, sir?" snapped out the doctor. 

Rodd stood silent in the darkness for a few moments as he stole his handunder the irate doctor's arm. 

"She'd say that dear Uncle Paul had been thinking about old Bony, andthat it had made him very cross with me about nothing at all. "

Uncle Paul made a sound like the beginning of a speech that would notcome, and the silence seemed deeper than ever, nothing being heard butthe soft lapping of the water under the vessel's counter, as she glidedslowly through the sea. 

But Rodd felt the warm arm under which his hand nestled press it closerand closer to the old man's side, and that he was urged along the deckto keep pace with his elder slowly up and down, up and down, from stemto stern, for some minutes before that speech came--one which was quitedifferent from that which Rodd fully expected to hear, for it was inUncle Paul's natural tones once more, as he said very thoughtfully andin quite a confidential manner--

"Yes, very gentlemanly, Pickle, my boy; quite the nobleman, I might say, and I am not at all surprised that you helped that poor lad to escape. A little effeminate, but certainly a very nice lad. But I have beenthinking about them ever since I came on board this afternoon, and Ican't quite make out that Count. What's he doing here, my boy? On somemission, and connected with some jealousy and a stop being put to hiscruise. I am not quite sure, Pickle. "

"Rodney, uncle, " said the boy mischievously. 

"Pickle, you dog! Be quiet. I am talking sense. But I think I haveworked it out. He betrayed himself. He's a naturalist, boy. Hebetrayed it in his looks and words as soon as he learned what I wasabout. Didn't you notice how eager he was to know about our pursuits?"

"Yes, uncle; I noticed that directly. "

"Ah, I thought so. A naturalist--a born naturalist, Pickle, and inspite of his being a Frenchman I shall begin to feel a brotherly respectfor a follower of the only pursuit worthy of a gentleman. Well, we hada very short sleep last night, so we have got a long one due to ourcredit to-night, and on the strength of that Captain Chubb has arrangedto have supper quite early. This has been a queer day, Pickle, a veryqueer day, and I am not at all displeased, for I am beginning to thinkthat we have got a very good time before us. "

"What time, uncle?"

"Ashore, my boy. What do you say to having a couple of the sailors withguns to keep us company while the rest are new-bottoming that brig?Walks in the primeval forest, Rodd, wonderful botanical rambles, shooting birds of glorious plumage, most likely coming across the greatman-ape, the chimpanzee. What do you say to that, my boy? Won't thatbe a grand change from fishing and dredging and bottling specimens?"

"Uncle Paul, don't!" cried the boy. 

"Don't? What do you mean, sir?"

"You were talking just now of our having a good long sleep to-night tomake up for all we lost since we went to bed last. "

"Well, sir, what of that?"

"How's a fellow to sleep, uncle, with such things as that to think of?Why, I shan't get a wink for thinking of the big chimpanzees; and as foreating any supper now, why, my appetite has completely gone. "

"Stuff!" cried Uncle Paul, pressing the lad's arm to his side. "Rodd, my boy, we must cork a bottle or two and throw them overboard to-morrow, and then have a little practice with bullets in our guns. We may comeacross dangerous beasts there, leopards and the like, while that thereare great man-apes in those forests of the West Coast there is not adoubt. "

"Well, I think I could shoot at one of those great spotted cats, uncle, all tooth and claw; but wouldn't it be rather queer to shoot one ofthose big monkeys which look so much like human beings? I mean thosebig ones with ears like ours, and no tails. "

"Humph! Ha! Well, I--Yes, all right, captain! We are coming down. "

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

GREAT FRIENDS. 

The days that followed the attempt to salve the brig after so strange anintroduction to her commander and his son, fell calm all through the hotsunny time, and only that a pleasant cool breeze ushered in the eveningand continued till the sun rose again, very little progress would havebeen made by the schooner and its consort, sailing east and south. 

But nobody seemed troubled. When the French and English sailors weretogether they were the best of friends; while long conversations andarguments often took place between the doctor and his new friend, theskipper generally letting them have the cabin to themselves. 

Sometimes they drifted into political questions and came very near tolosing their tempers; but each mastered and kept down his opinions, fora genuine feeling of liking had arisen between them, and the Countseemed never weary of listening to Uncle Paul's disquisitions upon themarvels of natural history, nor of studying with him the wonders ofcreation which he had collected and had to show. Then day by day thebrig, which was freed every day from as much water as she had gainedduring the night, sailed steadily on in the schooner's wake in fullcharge of her stern fierce-looking French mate--one of the most silentof men. 

And while the Count was mostly with the doctor, literally taking lessonsin pelagic lore, the two lads had become inseparable. 

"Look here, " said Rodd, almost hotly, one day, "if ever you say a wordagain about my helping you to escape at Dartmoor, you and I are going toleave off being friends. "

Morny laughed, a pleasant, almost girlish smile lighting up his well-cutGallic features. 

"Why, Rodd, " he cried, "isn't that rather hard? I used to think thatwas the most horrible time in my life, but I feel now that one part ofit was the most delightful. "

"There you go again, " cried Rodd. "You are beginning. "

"No, no, I wasn't. But I can't forget being a prisoner in England, andabout all that I went through there with my father when he was bad solong with his wound. "

"Bad so long with his wound?" said Rodd eagerly. "Ah! You may talkabout that. Yes, I should like to hear. Tell me all about your beingtaken prisoners, and how it happened. "

"For you never to be friends with me any more?" said the French ladmaliciously. 

"No, no, no. But I hate for you to be what you call grateful. You arequite a good sort of chap, and you speak our language so well that Iforget you are not English sometimes, till you begin to be grateful tome for saving you, and then I feel that you are French. There, now youmay tell me all about it--I mean about before you met me fishing. "

The two lads were under the awning upon this particular day justamidships. It was a hot and breathless time, but both were pretty wellinured to the weather, and were so interested in the subjects suppliedto them by Nature in the way of floating wonders that they nevertroubled themselves about the heat. 

Upon this occasion they were lying together upon the deck, suffering toa certain extent from lassitude consequent upon the heat. There was aman at the wheel, and Joe Cross was seated upon the main cross-treeswith a spy-glass across his legs, ready to raise it from time to timeand direct it eastward to try and pierce the faint silvery haze that laylow upon the horizon. The boys had grown very silent and thoughtful, Moray trying to recall memories of the past so that he might respond tohis English friend's demand upon him that he should relate something ofhis old experiences in connection with the war and his being broughtover to England, and so deep in thought that he paid no heed to hiscompanion. Meantime, Rodd, without any desire to play the eavesdropper, lay listening to the scraps of conversation which came up through thecabin skylight, growing a little louder than usual, for, as wasoccasionally the case, an argument was afloat respecting the late war, the doctor according to his wont growing wroth upon an allusion beingmade by his guest to the ex-Emperor Napoleon; and there were evidentlythreatenings of a storm, which was, however, suppressed by the gravedignity of the Count and a feeling of annoyance which attacked UnclePaul upon realising that he had ventured upon dangerous ground. 

"Oh, Uncle Paul, " said Rodd to himself, and he lay and laughed softly, making Morny start. 

"Was I talking aloud?" said the French lad, flushing. 

"You? No! Didn't you hear? It was Uncle Paul. Your father wastalking about Napoleon, and directly his name is mentioned uncle beginsto boil over. "

"Ah, yes, so you have told me, and I gathered something of the kind. Myfather should not have spoken about the Emperor, though he venerates hisname. "

"Do you?" said Rodd. 

"I?" replied Morny proudly. "Of course. He is the greatest man whoever lived. "

"I say; I'm not Uncle Paul. "

"Of course not. But why do you say that?"

"Because it seems as if you were trying to lead me on, like your fatherdid with uncle. "

"Ah, no, no, don't think that. Better to let such things rest. "

"Yes, " said Rodd. "I didn't hear much of what they were saying, onlythey talked loudly sometimes about the way the French and English hateone another. It seems so stupid. Why should they? I don't hate you;and I suppose you don't hate me. "

"Of course not! You have given me plenty of cause. "

"Whoa!" shouted Rodd. "You are getting on dangerous ground again. Now, look here; why should the French hate the English?"

"Because the English never did us anything but harm. "

"Nonsense!" said Rodd coolly. "Now, look here, suppose you and I had agood fight, and I got the best of it--gave you an unlucky crack on thebridge of your nose, and made both your eyes swell up so that youcouldn't see. "

"Well, it would be very brutal, " said Morny. "Gentlemen should fightwith the small sword. "

"Oh, I like that!" said Rodd merrily. "And then one of them sticks itin the other's corpus and makes him bleed, if he does nothing worse. Why, people have been killed. "

"Yes, in the cause of honour, " said Morny, slowly and thoughtfully. 

"But that wouldn't have happened if they had been fighting with theirfists. "

"It's of no use to argue a matter like this with an Englishman, " saidMorny. "He cannot see such things with the eyes of a Frenchman. "

"And a jolly good job too, " said Rodd. "But we are running away fromwhat we have been talking about. I was saying, suppose you and I werefighting and I hit you on the bridge of the nose and made your eyesswell up so that you couldn't see; that would be no reason why youshould always hate me afterwards. Wouldn't it be much better if the onewho was beaten owned it and shook hands so as to be good friends again?"

"Hah!" said Morny, giving vent to a long deep sigh. 

"Uncle Paul always says that there is so much good to do in the worldthat there is no room for animosity or hatred, especially as life is sovery short. Here, I don't see that we English have done anything worseto you French than conquering you now and then. "

"What!" cried Morny. "What have you to say to the way in which youtreated your prisoners? You were never taken captive with your father--I mean your uncle, and shut up in a great cheerless building right outupon a cold, bleak, dreary moor. "

"No, " said Rodd gravely. 

"My father and I were, after a sea-fight in which one of your greatbullying ships battered our little sloop of war almost to pieces andtook us into Plymouth, not conquered, for our brave fellows fought tillnearly all were killed or wounded. "

"I say, " cried Rodd earnestly, "I didn't know about this! Were youwounded?"

For answer Morny with flashing eyes literally snatched up hisshirt-sleeve, baring his thin white left arm and displaying in thefleshy part a curious puckering and discoloration, evidently the scar ofa bad wound. 

"Poor old chap!" said Rodd softly. "I say, how was that done?"

"Grape-shot, " replied Morny, drawing himself up proudly and deliberatelybeginning to draw down and button his sleeve. 

"Did it hurt much?"

"Yes, " said Morny rather contemptuously. "My father was wounded too, sothat he had to be carried below, or else we should never have struck, but he would have gone down as a brave captain should with coloursflying, fighting for the Emperor to the very last. "

"Then I am precious glad that the Count was taken below, " said Rodd. 

"Why?" snapped out the French lad fiercely. 

"Because of course you would have sunk with him, for you couldn't haveswum for your life with a wounded arm. "

"No; but shouldn't I have had my name written in history?"

"Perhaps. But you and I would never have met and become such goodfriends; for you know we are precious good friends when we can agree. "

Morny laughed. 

"Yes, " he said pleasantly, "when we can agree. But do you think it wasgood treatment to keep us shut up there as prisoners on that drearymoor?"

"Let's see, " said Rodd; "Dartmoor--all amongst the streams and tors, asthey call them?"

"Yes; a great granite desert. "

"Oh, but it was very jolly there, " said Rodd. 

"I don't know what you mean by jolly, " said Morny contemptuously. 

"Why, they didn't keep you shut up. They let you roam about as youliked, didn't they, as long as you didn't try to escape?"

"Well--yes; but it was a long time before I went out at all, " repliedMorny sadly. "For months I never left my father's side, and for a longtime I never expected that he'd recover; and as I used to sit there byhis bedside, watching, I began to get to hate the English more and more, and long to get away so as to begin righting for my country again. Butof course I couldn't leave my wounded father's side. "

"No, " said Rodd slowly and in a low voice, as if repeating the words tohimself. "Of course you couldn't leave your father's side. "

"No, " repeated Morny softly, "I couldn't leave my father's side. Butafter a time he made me go. He said my wound would never heal--for thesurgeon had told him so--if he kept me shut up day after day, and that Imust go out with the other prisoners and roam about on the moor; but Isaid I wouldn't leave him, and I didn't till he told me one day that Iwas growing white and thin and weak, and that he could see how I wassuffering from the pain in my wound. "

"Ah, yes, " said Rodd, in a low tone full of earnestness. "It must havegiven you terrible pain. "

"And at last he said, " continued Morny, "that if he saw me getting wellit would be the best cure for his injuries, but that if I were obstinateand refused to obey him now that he was lying there weak and helpless, it would surely send him to his grave. "

"And then of course you went?" replied Rodd excitedly. 

"Yes, I went then, " replied Morny, "for at last I had begun to see thathe was right. And then every morning after we had been all mustered, asyou call it, and were free to go outside the gates, I went out with alot more right on to the wild desert. But I wanted to be alone, and assoon as I could I wandered away up amongst the great stones, and satdown to think and rage against myself for feeling so happy when I wantedto be miserable and in despair about our fate. For it was as ifsomething within me was mocking at my sufferings and trying to make melaugh and feel bright and joyous, for--Oh, how well I can remember itall up there! The sun was shining brightly, and the great block ofstone upon which I sat down felt hot and so different to the coldcheerless prison inside. Every here and there amongst the stones therewas the beautiful soft green grass, and little low shrubs were in fullblossom, some a of rich purple, and some of the brightest gold, while intwo or three places far up in the blue sky the _alouettes_ were singinglike they do in France; and every puff of soft warm wind that floated bywas scented with the sweet fragrance of that little herb--I forget itsname--that which the bees buzz about. "

"Wild thyme?" said Rodd quickly. 

"Ah, yes; wild thyme. And there for a long time I sat nursing my leftarm, fighting against what seemed to be a feeling of happiness, andtrying to think of all the evil that the English had done us, and what Iwould do as soon as I got free. But it was too much for me. I couldn'tdo it, and what I had looked upon from the prison windows from betweenthe bars would not seem to be the same wild stony desert, but beautifuland full of hope and joy. "

"Ah!" cried Rodd. "That's because you were getting better. I know whatyou felt. I was like that once after a bad fever, and when I was takenout one fine morning for the first time, though I was weak as a rat Ifelt as if I must run and jump and shout all about nothing; but it wasbecause everything looked so beautiful, and I knew that I must begetting well. "

The boys' eyes met for a few moments, and then Morny bowed his headslowly and went on. 

"Yes, " he said quietly, "I suppose it was a beautiful healthy place, andit began to make me feel like that; and as I looked round--for I hadclimbed very high--I could see right down into parts of a valley thatwas all full of sunshine and flashing light, for there was a littledancing stream running swiftly along, and as I looked down into it andsaw how it widened here and narrowed there as it flashed amongst thegreat rocks of granite, it set me thinking about home, and instead ofgoing on planning how I would revenge myself upon the English, I beganto wonder whether there would be trout there too, and soon afterwards Ibegan to creep slowly down so as to see. And then I remember that Iburst out laughing at myself, for it seemed so droll. My legs wouldkeep on bending under me, and I had to sit down and rest every now andthen. "

"You were so weak, " said Rodd earnestly. 

"Yes, that was it, " cried Morny; "but I didn't understand at first, andsomehow I didn't seem to mind a bit, but sat down and rested time aftertime, till at last I got right down to the edge of the little river, allshallow and dotted with blocks of stone; and there at first were thelittle trout darting about to hide themselves, scared away by my shadowupon the water. But as I sat down to watch they soon came out again, and began leaping at the little gnats that were flitting about thesurface. Then do you know how that made me feel?"

"Well, " said Rodd, "I know how it would make an English boy feel--myself, for instance. "

"How?"

"As if he'd like to have my namesake with only one _d_ in his hand, andbegin whipping the stream. "

"Yes, that's how I felt, " said Morny softly. 

"I know about those trout on Dartmoor, " cried Rodd, "right up on themoor. I know somebody who used to go and fish there, and he told methat he could go and catch dozens and dozens and dozens of them wheneverhe liked. But they were so very small. "

"Yes, " said Morny, speaking dreamily now, with his eyes so lit up, thatas Rodd watched his thin delicate face, he thought how handsome andwell-bred he looked. 

"Too good-looking for a boy, but more fitted for a girl, " he mused. 

"And did you go and fish?" he cried, as he suddenly caught Morny's eyesgazing at him questioningly. 

"Oh yes. I went back to the prison and spoke to one of our guards--afrowning, fierce-looking fellow--and I told him how ill my father was, and that he never seemed as if he could eat the prison rations, as theycalled them, and that I wanted to try and catch some of the little fishon the moor and cook them, and try if I could tempt him with them. "

"And what did he say?" cried Rodd, for Morny had stopped. 

"He made my heart feel on fire at first, for he growled out `Bah!Rubbish! There, go on in. ' `Savage!' I said to myself. `Just like anEnglishman!'"

"What a brute!" cried Rodd. "But I say, old chap, our fellows are notall like that. "

"No, " said Morny. "But I hadn't done. Next minute he shouted after me, `Halt!' and when I stopped and looked round he called out, `Ahoy! Jim!'and another of the guards with his piece over his shoulder marched up towhere we stood, and the man I had first spoken to turned to me and said, `Here, you tell him what you said to me. '"

"And did you?" cried Rodd. 

"I felt as if the words would choke me at first, but just then I seemedto see the trout hot and brown upon a dish and my father, sick and pale, looking at them longingly, and that made me speak to the other guard, who was scowling at me. And as I spoke a grim smile came over his face, and his eyes twinkled, and he showed his teeth. `All right, youngster, 'he said. `Got a rod?' I shook my head. `No line? No flies?' I shookmy head again and again. `All right, young 'un, ' he said. `You come tome two hours before sundown; I shall be on duty then. I'll set you upwith a bit of tackle. But I say, you Frenchies don't know how to throwa fly!' `I used to, ' I replied, `at home, in France. ' `Lor', did you?'he said. `Hear that, Billy? I never knew as a Frenchman knew how tofish. But that's all right, youngster--only my ignorance. Afisherman's a fisherman the wide world round. '"

"Well?" said Rodd, for his companion had stopped. 

"Well?" said Morny. 

"Go on. "

"What about?"

"Well, you are a chap! Don't you know I was always very fond offishing?"

"I know you like fishing, for I saw you enjoying it that day when--"

"Steady!" cried Rodd. 

"I've done, " said Morny. 

"But I don't want you to have done. "

"Why, you forbade me to touch upon what you call dangerous ground. "

"Bah! That's another thing. I don't want you to be grateful. But ofcourse I like to hear about you going fishing. I could almost wish thatyou and I could go and have a few hours together on Dartmoor now. "

"And we cannot, " said Morny quietly. 

"No; but we might try for bonito or dolphins. But go on. I want you totell me about how you got on. Did you go to that prison guard two hoursbefore sundown?"

"Oh yes. He was as friendly as ever he could be, just because he foundthat I was fond of fishing, and lent me his rod and line and flies thathe made himself, and told me the best places to go to, and he was aspleased as I was when I came back to the prison with a dozen and a halfof little trout. Oh, I remember so well almost every word he said. "

"Well, what did he say?" cried Rodd eagerly. 

"Oh, he was a good-humoured droll fellow, though he looked so gruff, forwhen I showed him my fish he slapped me on the shoulder and said, `Welldone, young 'un! You are one of the right sort after all. ' And then hetold me to take the fish into his quarters, and his missus, as he calledher, would cook them for me so that I could take them to my sick father;and when I thanked him he said it was all right, and that he and his`missus' had been talking together about how bad the French captainlooked, and that I had better get him a nice little dish like that asoften as I could. "

Morny stopped again, and Rodd gazed at him impatiently. 

"Here, I say, " he cried, "what a tantalising sort of chap you are! Why, I could tell a story better than you. "

"Why, I have told you the story, " said Morny. 

"No, you haven't. You keep stopping short when you come to whatinterests me most. "

"Nonsense! You don't want me to go on telling you about catching morefish and getting them fried day after day, and about taking them up tomy father. "

"What do you know about it?" cried Rodd. "It's just what I do want youto tell me. Did he like them and eat them, and did they do him good?Those are the best bits. "

"You are a droll of boy, " said Morny, laughing. 

"I'm a what?" cried Rodd. 

"Droll of boy--_drole de garcon. C'est juste, n'est-ce pas_?"

"Oh, if you like, " cried Rodd merrily; "but if you don't think those arethe best parts of the story, which are?"

"Ah!" said Morny thoughtfully. "The part that I remember most isfeeling that somehow things are not always so black as they look, thatDartmoor was not such a dreary desert, and that the fierce frowningguards were not so hard and unpleasant as they seemed. There were timesafter that when I was very happy there, for my father's wound began toget better, and I found myself strong and well again. But after a timethere was a new governor there, who behaved very harshly to theprisoners, and as we got well the great longing for freedom used to growwithin us, and some of the men tried to escape. This made the governormore harsh and stern. We were kept more shut up--"

"And I suppose that made you long all the more to get free?"

"Of course, " replied Morny; "and at last there came a time when we hearda little news from across the sea--news which seemed to make my fatherthe Count half wild with longing, and one day he told me that he had hada lot of napoleons sent to him to help him to escape, and that the firstfine day we were allowed out for exercise upon the moor we would make adash for liberty. "

"You should have done it when you were out fishing, " said Rodd. 

"Oh no. The fishing had been stopped for a long time--ever since thefirst attempts had been made to escape. "

"Oh, I see, " said Rodd. 

"And at last the day came, " continued Morny, "and we made our attempt, but only to find that we were very closely guarded, and that soldierswere on the look-out in all directions; and in the attempt my father andI became separated, and I should have been taken if it had not beenthat--"

"Look here, " cried Rodd, springing up, "there's Joe Cross signalling tome from the maintop. He can see something. I say, that happenedluckily for you, young fellow, for you were just getting on to dangerousground. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

LAND HO!

"What is it, Joe?" cried Rodd. 

"Easy, sir!" said the man softly. "Not too loud, " he continued, fromwhere he was seated upon the cross-trees. "I don't want to give theskipper a false alarm, else he won't believe me next time. "

"What about?"

"Easy, my lad! Just in a whisper like. I aren't sure, but to you Isays, Land ho!"

"Whereabouts, Joe?" cried Rodd excitedly. 

"Ah!" cried Morny, springing up. "Land!" And he faced round to gazetowards the brig that was sailing very slowly after them some threehundred yards away--sailing, but doing little more than forge her waythrough the water. 

"Nay, not that way, sir, " said Joe softly, "but doo east. You can't seeanything from down there, Mr Rodd, sir. I can't even make certain withthe glass. "

"Hold hard, Joe! I am coming up, " cried Rodd. "All right, sir; but youwill be disappointed when you do. "

"I won't be long, Morny, " said Rodd eagerly. 

"No; be quick, " whispered Morny excitedly. "I want for my father toknow. He is so anxious about the brig. "

Rodd gave him a quick jerk of the head as he went on climbing theratlines as quickly as he could, forgetting all about the heat and thesilvery glare of the piercing sunshine. 

He was not long mounting to the sailor's side, seating himself on theopposite side of the mast. 

"Now then, " he cried, as he shuffled into his place; "let me look. "

"All right, sir. Ketch hold, " replied the sailor stolidly. "You'll doit; your eyes are so much younger and sharper than mine. "

"None of your gammon, Joe!" cried the boy sharply, as he focussed theglass to suit his eyes, while with one arm embracing the butt of themain-topgallant-mast he held the tube steadily to his eye, asking forguidance the while. 

"Now then, " he said; "whereabouts?"

"Right straight ahead, sir. You can't miss it if it's there, for itstretches away as far as you like to left and right!"

"Why, there's no land, Joe. "

"Not looking down low enough, sir, perhaps. It aren't right up in thesky. "

"Well, who's looking up in the sky?" cried Rodd irritably. --"I amlooking right down to the horizon line. "

"Well, that's right, sir. Take a good long look. Now then, can't yousee it?"

There was silence for a few moments, and Morny, who was gazing upwards, seemed to be all eyes and ears. 

"Can't you see it, Master Rodd?" repeated Joe. 

"No. "

"Perhaps 'tarn't land, then, sir. "

"No. It was all your fancy. There's nothing to be seen. "

"Where are you looking, sir?"

"At a little low bank of pale misty cloud. That's all, Joe. Your eyeswant a good rub. "

"Dessay they do, sir. They aren't much account, " said the man; "butthat caps what I saw, " and putting his hands to the sides of his mouthhe yelled out in stentorian tones, "Land ho!"--a signal that wasfollowed by the hurried shuffling sound of feet ascending to the deck. 

"Here, what are you doing?" cried Rodd angrily. "Spreading a falsealarm like that!"

"Oh, it's right enough, sir. "

"But there's nothing but a cloud there, Joe. "

"Looks like it, sir, but land it is all the same. "

"Where away?" came in the skipper's hoarse voice. 

"Dead ahead, sir, " replied the sailor, and Rodd steadied the glassagain, bringing it to bear upon what looked more than ever like thefaintest of faint hazes upon the surface of the distant sea. 

"Can you make it out, Rodd?" cried Uncle Paul, who had hurried on deckwith the Count. 

"Well, I can just see something, uncle, and I suppose it's land. "

"Oh, that's right enough, my lad, " cried the captain. "Can't beanything else. "

"Not clouds?"

"Ah, I don't say that, " cried the skipper. "You may see a bit of hazetoo, but there's solid land beneath. There, sir, " continued theskipper, "that's what we are looking for. Now the next thing we want tosee is water. "

"Well, we can see that plainly enough, Joe, " said Rodd, speaking withhis eyes still to the glass. 

"Ay, but he means dirty water, sir. "

"What do you want to see dirty water for?"

"Muddy, then, sir, showing as there's a river coming out there. I say, sir, wouldn't t'other young gent like to come up and have a squint?"

"Oh, of course. I forgot. Below there! Morny! Come on up and have alook. "

The lad sprang to the main shrouds and began to hurry up, while JoeCross, who had finished the task to achieve which he had been sent, began to lower himself down, leaving space for the young Frenchman, towhom the glass was handed in turn, ready for him to declare that hecould make out the distant land. 

"Ah, " he panted, as he handed back the glass, "how I have longed to seethat! Now, Rodd, we shall soon get the brig careened over and the leaksrepaired, and then--"

"Well, " said Rodd, "what then?"

"Be off to sea again, " cried Morny excitedly. 

"Well, you seem in a precious hurry, " grumbled Rodd. 

"Wouldn't you be if your schooner was like our brig?"

"No. Uncle and I are reckoning upon making a lot of discoveries ashore. If you are on a scientific expedition, wouldn't that do as well foryou?"

"No, " replied the French lad shortly. "We must follow out ourresearches by sea. "

"Then what is it you are looking for? I thought you were going to tellme the other day. "

"Yes, my father, " cried Morny, answering a hail from below. "I amcoming down. "

When the two lads descended it was to find that the Count had beenspeaking to the skipper, who had given orders for the schooner's boat tobe lowered so that the two visitors could return at once to the brig, with the understanding that both vessels were to send up studding sailsand use every possible speed now to get within touch of the shore, before making south and keeping a bright look-out for some estuary orriver mouth. 

"You will follow me, sir, " said the skipper; "but do you know what thiscoast line will be like?"

"I cannot say I do, " replied the Count. "Cliff and hill, with mountainsfarther in?"

"Nay, sir; all muddy shore, covered with dark green mangrove forest. Idon't suppose we shall be long before I send you up a signal; and thenwe can sail right in. There will be nothing to mind in the way ofrocks, for where I lead it will be all mud. "

Very shortly afterwards the lads parted, and as Rodd stood looking afterthe boat that was bearing their two visitors to the brig, Uncle Paulcame up close behind him. 

"Pity those two were born Frenchmen, Rodd, my boy, " said the doctor, "for there is something very gentlemanly about the Count, and I likethat lad Morny too. There is something about him, Rodney, that youmight very well copy. "

"Is there, uncle?"

"Yes, sir, there is. Certainly. I am not your father, but I am youruncle, and it gratifies me very much to see the polished, almostreverent way in which that lad behaves towards the Count. It's polite, and it's respectful, and it's--er--it's--er--"

"Why, you wouldn't like it, uncle, if I were to behave to you just as hedoes to the Count. "

"Well, not exactly, Rodney, but there's something very nice about it. Great pity, though, that they are French, and so corroded, so crustedover, as I may call it, with a sort of hero-worship for that tyrannicalusurper. There, I won't mention his name. "

"That's right, uncle; don't, please. "

"Why, sir?"

"Because it always makes you so cross, uncle. "

"Now, Rodney, that's what I don't like. If I have an antipathy to ascoundrel, and speak out firmly as an Englishman should, it is not for aboy like you to say I am cross; and I am quite sure that young Mornywould have had too much common-sense to speak out like that to hisfather. It is a great pity, though, that they are both, as I say, soeaten up with that hero-worship, and I am very much afraid that I spokea little too plainly to the Count to-day. It was rather unfortunatetoo. It was just when we had been having a very interestingconversation upon the medusae, especially those of a phosphorescentnature. By the way, has Morny said much to you about the object oftheir research?"

"No, uncle. He always seems disinclined to speak. "

"Humph! Yes, he does seem very reticent. His father as good as said, as I think I told you, that this was a voyage of discovery, a search forsomething he wanted to take back, and which was to make his country verygreat. But he has never said what, and it would be so veryungentlemanly to seem curious. "

"But you do feel curious to know, don't you, uncle?"

"Well, I must confess, my boy, that I do--a little jealous, perhaps, ofanother man's success, for I did learn as much as this, that he feltpretty sure of being successful if he could get the brig sound again. Well, I suppose we shall know some day. "

"I don't like to say any more to Morny, uncle. It would seem so small;and besides, he never questions me anything about what we are doing--only seems very much interested. "

"You are quite right, Rodd. It would be mean and petty. Leave it tothem, and if they like to take us into their confidence, well and good. If they do not, well, it is no business of ours. "

"Why, uncle, " cried Rodd suddenly, and then he stopped. "It isn'tbecause--"

Rodd stopped short again, looking straight away over the sea, as if indeep thought. 

"Well, my boy? It isn't because what?"

"Oh, I don't like to say, uncle. You would laugh at me. "

"How do you know that? Wait and see, " cried Uncle Paul. "Now then, what were you thinking?"

"I was wondering whether they could be trying to discover that which wefound quite by accident. "

"That which we found quite by accident, Pickle?"

"Yes, uncle, and that may be the reason why they don't like to talkabout it. You see, all ships' captains and people have been so laughedat, and told that they are inventing fables, that they are very quietand like to keep things to themselves, just the same as Captain Chubbwas when we saw that thing. You see, uncle--"

"Go on, Pickle! Go on!" cried Uncle Paul. 

"Oh, I haven't much more to say, uncle, only this--if ordinary captainsare so particular about speaking, and so afraid of ridicule, wouldn't abig scientific man like the Count, who has fitted out an expedition forthe discovery, be very careful too, lest the object of his voyage shouldget about? But oh, nonsense! It's ridiculous. It can't be that. Don't laugh at me, uncle. It's only what I thought. "

"I was not going to laugh at you, Rodney, my boy, " said the doctorquietly, "for the simple reason that I do not see anything to laugh at. It's a very clever, good idea, and quite possible. Yes, my boy, it'smore than possible. I don't say that you are right, but very likely tobe. The Count and his son are French, and, like their countrymen, verytouchy and sensitive and afraid of ridicule. I shouldn't be at allsurprised, my boy, if that really is the reason for their being sosecretive in their ways. "

"I am glad you think so, uncle, " cried the boy. 

"No, no, no; don't take it like that. It may be after all only a fancyof yours. "

"Yes, uncle, but if that's what they are searching for, to prove thatthere are such--such--er--what-you-may-call-'ems in the sea--"

"Phenomena, boy--phenomena, " said the doctor shortly. 

"Yes, uncle; phenomena--wouldn't it be an act of kindness to tell themthat we have already made the discovery, and try to show them the partof the ocean where such creatures are to be found?"

"Hum! No, my boy. No. We should be making matters worse. Not onlyshould we be showing the Count and his son that we have found out whatthey want to keep secret, but we should be robbing them of the honour oftheir discovery as well. No; let them take us into their confidence ifthey like, and if they do, so much the better. If they do not--well, the loss is theirs. "

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

COAST LAND. 

"Our skipper's as right as can be, Morny, " said Rodd the next evening, as the lad was once more on board the schooner, and they were sailinggently along about a mile from shore, the brig following pretty closebehind with the water streaming down from her scuppers as the work atone of the pumps was still kept up. 

For there was the coast, much as he had described, an undulating line ofthe singular dark green mangrove forest that looked low and dwarfed, and, now that the tide was low, showed to full advantage, the singularramification of its roots giving the bushy forest the appearance ofstanding up upon a wilderness of jagged and tangled scaffolding throughwhich the sea washed over the muddy shore. 

"Not pleasant-looking, gentlemen, " said the skipper, coming up to them. "Not the sort of place where you would like to settle down and build acountry house. "

"Why, it's horrible, " cried Rodd. "But why should it be so muddy here, instead of being all nice clean sand?"

"Because it's the edge of a low swampy country, my lad, where greatrivers come from inland and bring down the soil of thousands of miles. "

"But I always thought Africa was a sandy desert place where lions wereroving about, and where Mungo Park went travelling to Timbuctoo andplaces like that. "

"Yes, my lad, " said the skipper; "but that's the Africa of the oldbooks, and there's plenty of it like that on the east side and up in thenorth and where old Mungo Park went to, no doubt; but all along thiscoast it isn't a dry and thirsty land, but as soon as you get throughthe mangroves, full of great forests and big rivers. Why, look at thesea here. Right away out it was all as clear as crystal; now herethere's mud enough for anything. "

"But we shan't want to stop long in a muddy river with banks like this, captain, " said Morny. 

"Don't you be in too great a hurry to judge, sir, " said the skipper. "Ihave sailed up one or two of these rivers in my time, and when you gethigher up you will find it very different: big forests with grand trees, rivers with fine water, and places beautiful enough for anything, suchas will satisfy travellers who don't want ports and towns. You and thedoctor, Mr Rodd, will be able to get some fine shooting up there, ifyou like, and fine fishing too. Do you want to get any birds of all thecolours of the rainbow?"

"Why, of course!" cried Rodd eagerly. 

"Well, there you'll find them, sir--singing birds too, green and goldand scarlet and grey, and some with long tails, and some with short. Only, " continued the skipper dryly, and with a grim smile at the twolads, "they don't sing like our birds at home, but in a foreign lingo, all squeak and scream and squawk, through their having crooked hookbeaks. They are what people at home call parrots and parakeets. "

"Oh, that's what you mean!" cried Rodd, laughing. 

"Of course, sir--them as you teaches to talk. Wicked 'uns, some ofthem, ready enough to learn anything the sailors teach them, but sulkyas slugs when you want them to learn anything good. "

"But there are plenty of them, captain?" said Rodd. 

"Thicker than crows at home, sir. Then what do you say to monkeys?"

"That I should like to see them alive in the forest. "

"Well, there you have them, sir; and you could come across plenty, ifyou went far enough, big as boys. "

"Ah, now you are telling travellers' tales, captain, " said Rodd. 

"Nay, my lad, not I. I have seen them as big as boys, only not so tall, because their legs have all gone into arms. Little, short, crookedlegs, they have got, as makes them squatty. But when they stand uptheir arms are so long that they nearly touch the ground. Big as boys?Why, they are bigger! I never saw boys with such big heads. And theyall look as if they had been born old; wrinkled faces and long shaggyblack hair. "

"Now, look here, captain, I don't mind you joking me, but don't playtricks with the Viscount here. "

"Not I, my lad. I am just telling you the honest truth, and you maybelieve me. "

"But where's the river where these things are?"

"We shall come across one of them before long, sir, " said the skipper. "I expected to have found one that suited my book hours ago. I was verynearly going up that one just about dinner-time. "

"Oh, but that was only a little inlet, " said Rodd. 

"Looked so to you, sir, but all along here the shore's full of inlets, as you call them; but they are deep water and go winding in and out, andperhaps open out into big sheets of water like lagoons, as they callthem. But I am of opinion that if we don't turn into one to-night weshall do so some time to-morrow, and perhaps find just the sort of spotwe want. It we don't we will go a bit farther south. "

"But take us up beyond all this horrible mangrove swamp, " said Rodd. 

"You leave that to me, sir, " said the skipper. "We have got a good bitof work to do with that brig, and I want to bring my lads out again, andthe Count's too, well and hearty, not half of them eaten up with feverand t'other half sucked into dry skins by the mosquitoes. No, we shallhave to sail right up to where it gets to be a forest and park-likecountry. "

"There'll be no towns?" said Rodd. 

"No, sir, but we might come across a blacks' village, and if we do wecan anchor somewhere on the other shore. "

Another afternoon had come before the mangrove forest seemed to turninland and run right up the country, just as if they had come to the endof that portion of the land; but miles away the skipper pointed out thatthe forest began again and also swept inland, while by using the glassthe lads were able to trace the configuration of the coast, and saw thatthe two lines of coast north and south came together away east. 

"There, " said the skipper, "what do you say to this for the mouth of abig river?"

"River?" said the doctor, coming up. 

"Yes, sir--or estuary, which you like. This is the sort of one thatwill suit us, though as far as I can make out it is not down in mychart. So all the more likely to suit our book. "

"But do you think it's a river, and not a bend of the coast?" asked thedoctor. 

"If it was a bend of the coast, sir, the tide wouldn't be flowing inlike that. It's a good-sized tidal river, sir, and we are going to sailin as far as we can get before dark, and if all turns out as I expect, we shall be carried in past the mangroves and be able to moor to-nightperhaps to forest trees. "

"And if we don't?" said Rodd. 

"Why, then we shall anchor, and find plenty of good holding ground. "

The tide carried them in rapidly, and a nice soft breeze filled thesails, bearing them onward till the mangrove swamp on either hand beganto close in rapidly, while towards evening they were gliding where thebanks were about a mile apart, and just at sunset muddy patches began tomake their appearance, upon which Rodd noticed three times over, portions of the rugged trunks of trees that had been denuded of everybranch as they floated down with the stream. 

All at once, just where the mud glistened ruddily in the rays of thesetting sun, Rodd started, for a thick stumpy tree trunk suddenly beganto move gently, then glided a few feet over the mud, and finally wentinto the river with a tremendous splash. 

"Why, what's that?" cried Rodd excitedly. 

"Croc, " grunted the skipper gruffly. "Thousands of them along here. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

HOW TO GET BACK?

"Almost as bad as you tacking out of the harbour, Morny, " said Rodd thatevening, as the two vessels glided up the rapidly narrowing and greatlywinding river. 

"Oh no, " replied the French lad. "There is no tremendous storm of windblowing, threatening to tear the sails to ribbons, no soldiers in boatsusing their muskets, no big guns sending heavy balls from the forts. "

"No, " said the skipper, who had overheard the remarks; "not a bit likeit, Mr Rodd. It is rather awkward work, though, and we have to bealways on the dodge, else the next thing would be we should go rammingour noses right in the muddy banks and getting stuck fast; and thatwouldn't do. "

"Oh, you would get off again next tide, " said Rodd carelessly. 

"Mebbe, " said the skipper. "As the old country chaps at home say, wemought and we moughtn't. "

"Look, Morny, " cried Rodd. "There's another of those great crocs. Whata thick one! Why, that one must be five-and-twenty feet long. "

"Fourteen, " grunted the skipper. 

"No, no; it must have been twenty, " cried Rodd. 

"Fourteen, outside, " growled the skipper. "How can you tell when youonly catch sight of them on the move?"

"Well, it was a tremendous thickness, " said Rodd. 

"Ay, it was thick enough, and heavy enough; and they are stronger thanhorses. And just you look here, youngster, while we are up this river, where I dare say they swarm, you had better keep your eyes open, forthose chaps will pull a deer or a bullock into the water before the poorbrute knows where it is, and as to human natur', they lie waiting closeto the banks for the poor niggers, men, women or children, who come downto get water, and they nip them off in a moment. "

"Ugh! Horrible!" cried Rodd. 

"Yes, and what made me speak to you was that we are going to settle downfor a bit up here in the forest where the sun will be very hot, andwhere there'll be no end of great shady trees hanging over the riverside and seeming to ask folks to jump in and have a nice cooling swim. "

"I say, captain!"

"Oh, I'm not laughing at you, my lads, " said the skipper sharply. "Whenwe are lying moored or at anchor up here it's just the sort of thingthat you might make up your minds to do without saying a word toanybody. I know I should have done so when I was your age. But I justsay to you now solemn like--don't you do it. For if there's anythingone of these great reptiles likes it's a nice clean French or Englishboy. "

"Oh, come now, " cried Rodd merrily, "you don't call that talking solemnlike, captain?"

A grim smile dawned upon the old sailor's countenance. 

"Well, no, " he said; "but I mean it solemn like. I don't suppose one ofthey crocs would study about what colour it was, but they go foranything that's alive and moving, hold on with those great teeth oftheirs, and whatever it is they catch, it's soon drowned when it'spulled below, and never heard of again. --Starboard, my lads!Starboard!" he shouted, with both hands to his mouth, and the schoonercurved round and went off on another tack in obedience to thehelm. --"It's rather an awkward job, my lads, " continued the skipper. "You see, we have to sail to all points of the compass, and one minuteyou have got the wind blowing gently fair and free from right ahead ordead astarn, and the next you are going into shelter and got no wind atall. "

"But we keep on going steadily up the river, captain, " said Rodd. 

"Yes, my lad; we have got this strong tide in our favour. I amreckoning that if we drop anchor soon we shall be able to get as far aswe want next tide. "

"But how far do you mean to go?" asked Morny anxiously. 

"Oh, a good way up yet, " replied the skipper. 

"But why not keep on now?" asked Rodd. 

"Because I want to pick a good berth before the dark comes down andcatches and leaves us nohow. Got any more questions to ask?"

"Hundreds, " cried Rodd merrily. 

"Humph! Then I think I ought to have my pay raised. I joined the _Maidof Salcombe_ to sail her, not to give you lessons in jography, etymology, syntax, and prosody, as it used to say in my lesson book whenI was a little 'un. "

"Ah, well, I won't bother you any more to-day, captain, " said Rodd;"only one always wants to know what things are when they are quitefresh. "

Captain Chubb did not answer for the moment, for he had to shout anotherorder to the steersman and make two or three signals with his hand tothose on board the brig, which was following in the schooner's track, keeping as close as it could to be safe. 

At the end of five minutes, though, he had returned to his old position, and grunted out with a look as if he wanted to be questioned more--

"Well, I suppose such youngsters as you like to know. "

Then all at once he shouted out a fresh order, which was followed by therattling out of the cable through the hawse-hole as the anchor splashedand went down to a pretty good depth before the rope was stopped, oneorder having acted for both vessels, and just before dark they swunground head to stream, with the water lapping loudly against their bows. 

"That's enough for one day, " grunted the captain. "Safe and snug aharbour as any one could wish to be in, and there's the trees, you see, on both sides, good, sound, solid forest trees such as would cut up intofine timber, and all the mangroves left far enough behind. "

In a remarkably short time, as the two lads stood watching the shores, the forest on either side grew intensely black, and though the stewardannounced that the evening meal was ready, no one seemed disposed to gobelow, for, succeeding to the solemn evening silence, they seemed to besurrounded by strange sounds from the depths of the forest as well asfrom the river, whose current began to grow sluggish, suggesting thatbefore long the tide would be at its height, and ready to turn with therushing of the water outward to the sea. 

"Why, it's awful, " said Morny, in a subdued tone, as he stood with Roddgazing at the nearest shore. 

"Yes, not very nice, " replied Rodd. "You and your father had betterstop on board here to-night. "

"Oh no. Our boat is hanging astern. We shall go back. "

Rodd thought that he should not like to attempt to row from vessel tovessel in the darkness of such a night, for something seemed to suggestto him the possibility of being swept out to sea; but he did not say so, for fear of making his companion nervous, and they stood listening andwhispering together, trying to give names to some of the uncouth noiseswhich floated to their ears. 

Many were sharp quick splashes as if some great fish had sprung out ofthe water in pursuit of prey, or in a desperate effort to escape apursuer. Then every now and then there would be a resounding slap, asif one of the great reptiles that haunted the river had struck thesurface a tremendous blow with its tail. 

"What's that?" asked Rodd, directly after, as a low, deep, mournfulsound came from amongst the trees upon the shore, sounding like apiteous cry for help from some woman in distress. 

This was succeeded by a painful silence, and then Rodd raised hisvoice--

"Captain! Captain Chubb! Do you hear that? Are you there?"

"Oh yes, here I am, my lad, " came from out of the darkness. "And Ishould be precious deaf if I hadn't heard it. "

"Well, ought we to take the boat and try and save her?" cried the boypassionately. 

"How do you know it's a _her_, my lad? I should say it was a _him_. It's the cock birds and not the hens that shout like that. "

"Bird!" cried Morny. "It was a human being. "

"Ah, it do sound something like it, my lad, but that aren't a human. It's one of them great long-legged storky chaps with the big bills, calling to his wife to say he's found frogs, or something of that kind. You wait a minute, and if she don't come you will hear him call`Quanko!'--There, what did I say?" said the skipper, with a chuckle, asin trumpet tones came the cry of the great long-legged creature in asonorous _Quang, quang, quang, quang_!

"Why, the captain seems to know everything, " said Morny admiringly. "Isay, how did you know that, sir?"

"Oh, " said the skipper modestly, "one just picks up these sort of thingsa little bit at a time. Now then, do you hear that?"

The two lads did hear it--a peculiar musical (?) wailing cry which wasrepeated again and again and then died out, half-smothered by a chorusof croaking from the swampy river banks. 

"Oh yes, we can hear, " cried Rodd. "We can do nothing else but listen. But what was it made that cry?"

"Ah! That's one of the things I don't know, " said the skipper, chuckling. "What should you think it was?"

"Oh, I don't want to be laughed at again, " cried Rodd, "for makinganother mistake. Perhaps it's some other kind of stork. "

"Nay, you don't think it is, " said the skipper. "You think different tothat. Come, have a guess. "

"Well, " said Rodd, "I should say it was some kind of great cat. "

"Right, my lad; not much doubt about that. I don't know what sort itis, but it's one of them spotted gentlemen. I should say there'd beplenty of them here. Well, I have had about enough of it for to-day. Iam just going to see about the watch, and to say a few words below toyour father about having a good look-out kept, and then it won't be verylong before I turn in to my cot, for I am tired. This has been a ratheranxious day. "

"You are going to speak to my father about having a good look-out kept?"

"Well, yes, my lad, and with our men well-armed. I don't say as it'slikely, and we are too near the sea for any villages of blacks; but itwouldn't be very nice to have two or three big canoes come and make fastto us in the night, and find the decks swarming with niggers who mightthink that we were made on purpose for them to kill. "

"Why, you don't think that's likely, do you?" cried Rodd. 

"Not at all, my lad. But safe bind, safe find. What I have alwaysfound is this--that when you keep a very strict look-out nothinghappens, and when you don't something does. Are you lads coming down?"

"Not yet, " said Rodd. 

"I suppose you will be going soon, won't you, Mr Morny?" said theskipper, who somehow always forgot their visitor's title. 

"I am expecting my father will be coming up soon to say it is time. "

"Yes; I shouldn't leave it much longer, " said the skipper. "I'll tellhim. --Joe Cross, there!"

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"You and four men stand by with the gig to take the Count aboard hisvessel. You will just drop down head to stream ready to pull hard ifthe tide seems a bit too heavy; and you, my lad, be ready forward withthe end of the line made fast to the thwart and the grapnel clear, readyto drop overboard to get hold of the mud if you find the current toostrong. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the man; and the skipper went below. 

"I am glad of that, Joe, " said Rodd eagerly. "I was thinking whetherthere was any risk of the boat being swept away. "

"So was I, sir; but it's always the same. Whenever I think of somethingthat ought to be done I always find that our old man has thought of itbefore. Did you see that we have swung round to our anchor?"

"No, " said Rodd. 

"We have, sir, and the tide's running out like five hundred millionmill-streams. You come for'ard here and feel how the cable's all of ajigger, just as if the river had made up its mind to pull it right outof the mud. "

The two lads followed, and it was exactly as the man had said, for thegreat Manilla rope literally thrilled as if with life, while the riverglided by the schooner's cutwater with a loud hiss. 

"Why, Joe, " cried Rodd, as he gazed in the sailor's dimly-seen face, "how are you going to manage to row back?"

"Well, sir, that's one of the things I have been asking myself. "

"Well, you had better speak to the skipper. "

"Not me, sir. I'm not going to try to teach him. If I was to say aword he'd jump down my throat bang. Oh, he knows what he's about, or hewouldn't have told me to stand by with that there grapnel. "

"Yes, of course he'd know, " said Rodd quietly. "I should like to knowhow you'd got on. "

The two lads stood listening to the weird sounds from the shore, everynow and then being puzzled by something that was entirely fresh, whilethe swiftly running water gleamed dimly with the faintly seen reflectionof the stars, showing that a mist was gathering overhead, while JoeCross and the men lowered down the boat and hauled her up to thegangway, ready to convey the visitors to the brig. 

They had hardly finished preparations before the voices that had comebefore in murmurs from the cabin were heard ascending to the deck, andthe Count cried out of the darkness--

"Are you ready there, Morny, my son?"

"Yes, my father, " replied the lad, and Rodd walked with him to the side. 

The men were in their places, with their oars ready to hand to lower atonce, Joe Cross holding on in front with his boat-hook through aring-bolt. A few more words passed between the Count and Uncle Paul, and then the former bade his son descend into his place, followingslowly directly after. 

"Good-night, " he said. 

"Good-night, Rodd!" cried Morny. "We shan't be long getting to thebrig. "

"No, " cried Rodd. "Good-night! Here, one moment; I'll slip down andcome back with the gig. "

Before any one else could speak he had dropped into the boat, his feettouching the nearest thwart as the skipper cried "Let go!" and almostthe next moment the men were pulling hard, while Joe Cross dropped uponhis knees to feel for the grapnel so as to make sure it was at hand, while to Rodd it seemed that the boat was motionless in the rapid riverand that the schooner had been suddenly snatched away. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

UP A TREE. 

"Put your backs into it, my lads, " cried Joe Cross, almost fiercely. "Steady! Steady all, and look out that you don't have a smash. Pull!Hard! Here, I shall be tugged out of the boat!"

For it seemed almost directly after that the dimly-seen hull of the brigrose up out of the darkness close at hand, while from where he knelt--fortunately for himself--the coxswain felt his arms being jerked out oftheir sockets as he caught with the boat-hook at the brig's main chains. "Stand by there!" he roared, as he held on. "Lend a hand here to helpthe gentlemen on board! Somebody say it in French! Up with you!"

There was no need for the use of another tongue, for a lantern shed itslight down upon them, willing hands were ready, and the Count and Mornyscrambled aboard. 

The next moment the Count was giving orders for a rope to be passed downto the boat. 

"Make fast, and come on board!" he shouted. "You'll never get backto-night. "

The order came too late, for as he spoke another order was given out byJoe Cross, who had loosed the precarious hold he had with the boat-hook, as he shouted while giving the boat a thrust away--

"Now for it, my lads! Pull for all you know!"

Almost the next moment Rodd dimly saw that they were clear, and as themen tugged at their oars with all their might he dropped upon his kneesin front of stroke, clapped his hands against the oar, and swinging withthe man, thrust with all his force. 

Five minutes of desperate tugging at the oars in the midst of darknesswhich seemed to rapidly increase. The men had rowed with all theirforce--not to get back to the schooner, but to reach the brig and one ofher ropes that they knew would be thrown to their help; but to Rodd, ashe strained his eyes from where he knelt striving to give force to thestroke oar, it was like catching so many glimpses, first of the brig'sside, then of its stern, and then once more it was as if they werestanding still in the water and the brig was rushing away. 

"Steady, my lads! Don't break your hearts!" cried Joe Cross firmly, hisvoice ringing clearer out of the black silence. "It aren't to be done. Mid-stream's our game. If we try to get ashore we shall be among thebranches, capsized in a moment, and--"

The sailor did not finish his speech then, but Rodd did to himself, andhot though he was with his exertions, a cold shiver seemed to runthrough him, as he mentally said--

"The crocodiles!"

"That's better, my lads. Just a steady pull, and I'll keep as I am withthe boat-hook. We mustn't have a capsize. "

"What are you going to do, Joe?" cried Rodd. 

"Don't know, sir, " said the man gruffly. "Perhaps you can tell me. "

"I? No, " cried Rodd. 

"Ah! That's awkward, " said the man. "I don't know what the skipper wasabout to set us on this job. That's the worst of being a sailor. Theytrains us up to 'bey orders directly they're guv, and we does them, butone never knows how to be right. I oughter ha' told the old man as thiswas more'n men could do; 'cause I half thought it were. But then I saysto myself, the skipper knows best; and here we are in a nice hole. "

"A nice hole!" cried Rodd angrily. "Why, we shall be swept out to sea. "

"Looks like it, sir--I mean seems. "

"But why not make for the shore, where we could catch hold of some ofthe overhanging branches?"

"I telled you, sir. 'Cause we should be capsized before we had time towink. Steady, my lads--steady! It's no use to pull, Mr Rodd; fourtimes as many of us couldn't stem a stream like this. "

"Will they come down after us? Yes, my uncle is sure to. "

"Not he, sir. It would be just about mad to try it, and our old manwill be so wild at being caught like this that he won't let him stir. 'Sides that, sir, what are you talking about? How are they to know wehave been swept away?"

"Because we don't come back, of course, " cried Rodd angrily. 

"That won't do, sir. Skipper knows, of course, after the way we wentoff, that it's just impossible. "

"But the Count will tell him. "

"Too far off for shouting, sir. You take my word for it that theskipper will make up his mind that we are stopping on board the brigtill the tide runs slack again. If anything's done it will be by theFrenchies, and I don't believe they'll try. "

"Oh, but the Count would. His son would make him. "

"No, sir. The Count's a fine naval officer who has seen service, and heknows too well what he's about to send a boat's crew swirling down thisriver to go nobody knows where. The only folks as can help us is--"

"Yes--who?" cried Rodd, for the man broke off in his speech. 

"Ourselves, sir; and we shall find it precious hard. "

"That's right, Joe, " said one of the other sailors. "Better speak out, mate, and say the worst on it. "

"Say it yourselves, " cried Joe Cross roughly. 

"Yes, speak out, " cried Rodd. "What do you think?"

"We can do nothing, sir, but keep her head straight and go down with thetide, doing all we can to keep from being sucked into the shore amongthe trees. "

"But look here, Joe, aren't we very close in now?" cried Rodd, who hadjust noticed in the darkness that the sailor he addressed was leaningover the bows and straining his eyes in one particular direction. 

For answer the man yelled to his messmates to pull with all their might. 

The oars dipped, but at the second stroke there was a crashing rustlingsound of twigs, followed by a sharp crackling and snapping, as they wereswept in amongst the pendant branches of some huge forest tree, onebough striking Rodd across the shoulders and holding him as it werefast, so that the boat was being dragged from beneath him. 

Then there was more grinding of the gunwale of the boat amongst theboughs, the water came swishing in over the side, and directly after thefrail vessel partly turned over, with her keel lying sideways to therushing tide. 

Then more crackling and rustling amongst the boughs, mingled withshouting from the boat's crew, and from out of the confusion, andsomewhere above him in the pitchy darkness and low-lying night mist, came the voice of Joe Cross--

"Now then, all of you! Where away?"

"Here!"

"Here!"

"All right, mate!"

"Lend a hand, some one!"

"Are you all here?" cried Joe Cross again. 

"Ay, ay, ay, ay!" came in chorus. 

"But I don't hear the young guvnor. "

There was silence. 

"Where's Mr Rodd?"

A moment's pause, and then--

"Mr Rodd! Ahoy!"

"Here, Joe, here!" came in half-suffocated tones. 

"Wheer, my lad?" cried the man excitedly. 

"Here! Here! Help!"

"But where's yer _here_, lad? I can't see you. --Can any of you? Oh, look alive, some on you! Get hold of the boy anywhere--arms or legs oranything--and hold on like grim death. "

There was a sharp rustling of leaves and twigs which pretty well drownedRodd's answer--

"I'm down here. "

"Where's _down here_, my lad? Are you under the boat?"

"No, no. Hanging to a bough, with the water up to my chest, andsomething's tugging at me to drag me away. "

"Oh, a-mussy me!" groaned the sailor. "Why aren't it to-morrow morningand sun up? Can't any of you see him?"

"No, no, no, no!" came back, almost as dismally as groans. 

"Well, can't you feel him, then?"

"No. "

"I am here, Joe--here!" panted the lad. "Higher up the river than youare. A big branch swept me out of the boat. "

"Ah, yes, we went under it, " groaned Joe. "Well, lads, he must be theother side of the tree. Here, where's that there boat? Can any of yousee it?"

"No; we are all on us in the tree?"

"Well, I don't suppose you are swimming, " roared Cross savagely. "Dosomething, some on you! Thinking of nothing but saving your own blessedlives! Are you going to let the poor lad drown?"

"Here, coxswain, why don't you tell us what to do?" snarled one of themen. 

"How can I, " yelled Joe, "when I don't know what to do mysen? Oh, don'tI wish that I had got the skipper here! I'd let him have it warm!"

"Joe! Joe!" came out of the darkness. "I can't hold on! I can't holdon!"

"Yah, you young idgit!" roared the sailor. "You must!"

"I can't, Joe--I can't!" cried Rodd faintly, and there was a gurglingsputtering sound as if the water had washed over him. 

"Oh-h!" groaned Joe. "Don't I tell you you must! Hold on by your armsand legs--your eyelids. Stick your teeth into the branch. We area-coming, my lad. --Oh my! what a lie!" he muttered. Then aloud, and ina despairing tone, "Can any one of you get up again' the stream to wherehe is?"

"No!" came in a deep murmur. "If we go down we shall be washed away. "

"Same here, " groaned Joe. "I'm a-holding on with the water right up tothe middle, and just about ready to be washed off. I can't stir. Oh, do one of you try and save the poor dear lad! I wish I was dead, I do!"

"Joe!" came faintly. 

"Ay, ay, my lad!"

"Tell Uncle Paul--"

The words ended in a half-suffocated wailing cry, and almost the nextmoment there was a tremendous splashing of water, and the snapping of agood-sized branch, followed by sounds as of a struggle going on upon thesurface of the rushing stream as it lapped and hissed amongst thetangled boughs and twigs. 

"Hold hard!" yelled Joe. "Anywhere. --Got him, boys--_urrrrr_!--"

It was as if some savage beast had suddenly seized its prey. Then therewas a loud panting and more crackling as of branches giving way, anddirectly after, in answer to a volley of inquiries, Joe Cross pantedout--

"Yes, I've got him, my lads, and he's got his teeth into me; but I don'tknow how long we can hold on. "

"You must hold on, Joe!" shouted a voice. 

"Stick to him, messmate! I'm a-trying to get to you. "

There was more crackling in the darkness, and a peculiar subdued soundas of men panting after running hard; but it was only the hard breathingof excitement. 

"Have you got him still, Joe?" came in gasps. 

"Yes, my lad, but he's awful still and I don't know that he aren'tdrowned. --No, he aren't, for he's got his teeth into my shoulder, andhe's gripping hard. But the water keeps washing right up into my ear. "

"Hoist him up a little higher, " panted the other speaker. 

"How can I? I've got my arm round him, but if I stir it means let go. What are you doing, mate?"

"Trying to get down to you, but as soon as I stir the bough begins tocrack. "

"Steady, mate, steady! I can't see you, but I can hear, and if you comedown on us we are gone. Here, I say, it will be hours before it'smorning, won't it?"

There was a groan in reply--a big groan formed by several voices inunison. 

"But how long will it be before, the tide goes down and leaves us?"

There was no reply, and a dead silence fell upon the occupants clingingto different portions of the tree, all of whom had managed with thestrength and activity of sailors to drag themselves up beyond the reachof the water and at varying distances from where Joe Cross clung withone messmate hanging just above his head. 

"Well, look here, messmates, " said Joe at last, "it's no use to make theworst on it. I've got the young skipper all right, and he's growingmore lively, for he just give a kick. Now who's this 'ere? It's you, Harry Briggs, aren't it?"

"Ay, ay, mate; me and water, for I swallowed a lot before I got out ofit. "

"Now, look here; how are you holding on?"

"Hanging down'ards, my lad, with my hind legs tied in a knot round a bigbough; and I keep on trying to get hold of you by the scruff, but Ican't quite reach. "

"Why, that's a-hinging like the bees used to do outside my old mother'sskep. Well, you mustn't let go, my lad, else down you come. "

"Well, I know that, mate, " growled the man. "But I say, can't you reachup to my hands?"

"Yah! No!" growled Joe. "I've only got two. Can't you reach down alittle further and get hold of my ears, or something?"

"My arms aren't spy-glasses, and they won't reach within a foot of you. Can any of you swarm out above us here?"

"No--no--no!" came in voice after voice, from points that were evidentlyfairly distant. 

"Oh!" groaned the sailor addressed as Harry. "Fust time in my blessedlife I ever wished I was a 'Merican monkey. "

"What for, mate?" panted Joe. 

"So as to make fast round this 'ere branch with my tail. "

"Joe! Joe!" came in a low hoarse tone. "Where am I!"

"Well, you are here, my lad; but don't let go with your teeth. Takeanother good fast hold, but more outside like. Keep to the wool of thejumper--if you can. "

"Hah! I recollect now. We are in the water, and I have got hold ofyou. "

"That's right, my lad, and I'd say take a good fast holt of my hair, only Ikey Gregg scissored it off so short when it turned so hot thatthere's nothing to hold. But can you hyste yourself up a bit higher?"

"I'll try, Joe; but the water drags at me so. But, Joe, what are youholding on to?"

"What they'd call a arm of the tree, sir. "

"But if I try to climb up you shan't I drag you loose?"

"Oh, I'm no consequence, my lad. If I'm washed off I shall get holdagain somewheres. Never you mind me. There's Harry Briggs up alofta-reaching down a couple of his hands. If you feel you've got stuffenough in you. --Take your time over it, my lad--you see if you can'tswarm a bit up me and then stretch up and think you are at home tryingto pick apples, till Harry gets a big grip of your wristies; and thenyou ought to be able to swarm up him. Now then, do you think you cantry?"

"Yes, Joe; I think so, " panted the boy. "That's right, my lad. I'dgive you a lift, only I can't, for I'm in rotten anchorage, and wemustn't get adrift. "

About a minute passed, in which little was heard but the whishing of thewater through the leaves and twigs, and the sound of hard breathing. Then Joe spoke again--

"I don't want to hurry you, my lad, but if you think you can manage itI'd say, begin. "

"I'm ready now, Joe, " said the boy faintly. "But do you think you canhold on?"

"Aren't got time to think, my lad. You go on and do it. That's yourjob, and don't you think as it's a hard 'un. Just you fancy thedoctor's yonder getting anxious about you, and then--up you goes. "

"Yes, Joe, " panted Rodd. 

"And once you get hold of Harry Briggs' hands he'll draw you up a bit. He's a-hinging down like one of them there baboons, tail up'ards. Then, once he hystes you a bit, you get a good grip of him with your teethanywhere that comes first. He won't mind. That'll set your hands free, and then up you goes bit by bit till you gets right into the tree. "

"Yes, Joe; and then?"

"Well, my lad, then I'd set down striddling and have a rest. "

"Below there! Ready!" cried Briggs. "I can't reach no further, youngster, but I think if you can climb up and grip we might manage it. "

"Yes! Coming!" cried Rodd. 

And then no one saw, and afterwards Rodd could hardly tell how hemanaged it, but with the water pressing him closer as he clung face toface with the partially submerged coxswain, he managed to scramblehigher, clinging with arms and legs, till he occupied a hazardousposition astride of the sailor's shoulder, holding on with his left handand reaching up with his right, snatching for a few moments at nothing. 

"Where are you, my lad?" came from above. 

"Here! Here!" panted Rodd, and then, "Ah, it's of no use!"

As he spoke he felt himself going over, but at that moment his fingerstouched the sleeve of a soft clinging jersey, a set of fingers grippedhard at his arm, and in a supreme effort he loosened his other hand, made a snatch, and then began swinging gently to and fro till anotherhand from above closed upon his jacket and lightened the strain. 

"Got you, my lad!" came from overhead. "Now look here; I'm not going tohyste you up, 'cause I can't, but I am going to swing you back'ards andfor'ards like a pendulo till you can touch this 'ere bough where I amhanging, and then go on till you can get your legs round it and holdfast. Understand?"

"Yes, " panted Rodd. 

"Now then. Belay, and when you get hold you shout. "

It was the work of an acrobat, such as he would have achieved in doubtand despair. 

The sailor began swinging the boy to and fro, to and fro, with more andmore force, till Rodd felt his legs go crashing in amongst the thicktwigs of the great bough that was drawn down by the weight of the twoupon it a good deal below the horizontal. 

"Harder!" he cried, as he swung back, and then as his legs went well inagain he felt that a thick portion was passing between his knees, andthrusting forward his feet with all his might he forced them upwards anddirectly afterwards passed them one across the other in a desperate gripwhich left him dragging on the sailor's hands. 

"Fast, my lad?"

"Yes. "

"Can you hold on?"

"Yes. "

"Then good luck to you!" cried the sailor, as, relieved of the boy'sweight, he too swung head downwards for a moment or two, then with aquick effort wrenched himself upwards, got hold of the branch with bothhands, and after hanging like a sloth for a few moments, succeeded indragging himself upon the bough, which all the while was swaying heavilyup and down and threatening to shake Rodd from where he hung, but at thesame time inciting him so to fresh desperate action, that with all aboy's activity he too had succeeded in perching himself astride of thebranch. 

"All right, my lad?" cried Briggs. 

"Ye-es!" came gaspingly. 

"Then you wait a bit and get your wind, my lad. --Joe Cross! Ahoy!" heyelled, as if his messmate were half-a-mile away. 

"Right ho!" came from below. "Where's the boy?"

"Here, Joe--here!" shouted Rodd, the sound of the man's voice seeming tosend energy through him. 

"Hah-h-h!" came from the sailor, and directly after from different partsof the tree there was a cheer. 

"Now then, what about you, matey?" shouted Briggs. 

"Well, I dunno yet, my lad; I'm just going to try and shape it round. Iwant to know where some of the others are, and whether if I let go Icouldn't manage to make a scramble and swim so as to join a mate. "

"No, no, no!" came in chorus. "Don't try it, lad. Aren't you safewhere you are?"

"Well, I don't know about being safe, " replied the sailor. "Mebbe Icould hold on, but here's the water up to my chesty; and don't make arow, or you'll be letting some of those crocs know where I am. Lookhere, Mr Rodd, sir; are you all right?"

"Yes, Joe; I can sit here as long as I like. --That is, " he added tohimself, "if the branch doesn't break. "

"Well, that's a comfort, sir. And what about you, Harry Briggs?"

"Well, I'm all right, mate; only a bit wet. "

"Wet! You should feel me!" cried Cross, quite jocularly. "How aboutthe rest on you?"

"Oh, we are up aloft here in the dark, mate, " said one of the men. "Idunno as we should hurt so long as we didn't fall asleep. "

"Oh, I wouldn't do that, mates, " said Cross. "You might catch cold. You hang yourselves out as wide as you can, so as to get dry. "

"But look here, Joe Cross, " shouted Rodd, who was rapidly recovering hisspirits, "you mustn't sit there in the water. Can't you manage to climbup?"

"Oh yes, sir, I can climb up easy enough, only it don't seem to me asthere's anything to climb. "

"But doesn't the branch you are sitting on go right up to the tree?"

"No, sir; it goes right down into it, and I'm sitting in a sort of fork, like a dicky bird as has been picking out a handy place for its nest. "

"Then what are you going to try to do?"

"Nothing, sir, but think. "

"Think?"

"Yes, sir--about what I'm going to say to the skipper if ever we getsback. "

"Why, what can you say?"

"That's what I want to know, sir. I know what he'll say to me. He'llsay, Look here, my lad, you were coxswain; I want to know what you havedone with my gig. "

"Ah, the boat!" said Rodd. "Do any of you know what's become of theboat?"

"I don't, " said Briggs. 

"Oh, she's half-way to South Ameriky by this time, sir, " said Joe, "andI shall get all the credit of having lost her. "

"Never mind about the boat, Joe. "

"Well, sir, if you talk like that, I don't. But it's the skipper whowill mind. "

"It's nothing to do with him, Joe. It's uncle's boat; and it wasn'tyour fault. "

"Thank you, sir. That's a bit comforting like, and warms one up a bit;but if it's all the same to you I'd raither not talk quite so much, forI don't know as crocs can hear, but if they can it mightn't be pleasant. Well, my lads, just another word; we have got to make the best of itand wait for daylight, and I suppose by that time the tide will havegone right down, and some on you will be getting dry. "

There was silence then, and the men sat holding on to their precariousperches, listening to an occasional sound from the river or the shore, loud splashings right away out in the direction of what they supposed tobe the main current, and an occasional trumpeting wail or shriek fromthe forest--sounds that chilled and produced blood-curdling sensationsat the first, but to which the men became more and more accustomed asthe hours slowly glided on. 

"Look here, " said Joe Cross, at last, "because I said I didn't want totalk, that wasn't meant for you who are all right up above the water. It's bad enough to be keeping a watch like this on a dark night, butthat is no reason why you chaps shouldn't tell stories and talk and saysomething to cheer Mr Rodd up a bit. He had about the worst of it, swep' out of the boat as he was. So let go, some on you. You've got todo something, as you can't go to sleep. But I tell you one thing; youchaps are all much better off than I am. I shan't fall out of my bunkon the top of any of you. But look here, Harry Briggs, you always wanta lot of stirring up before one can get you to move. Now then; you havegot a bit of pipe of your own. Sing us a song. Good cheery one, with achorus--one that Mr Rodd can pick up and chime in. Now then, let go. "

"Who's a-going to sing with the water dripping down out of his toes?"

"Why, you, mate, " cried Joe. "There, get on with you. You chaps asknows the best songs always wants the most stirring up, pretending to bebashful, when you want to begin all the time!"

"I tell you I don't, mate. I'm too cold. "

"Then heave ahead, and that'll warm you up. You tell him he is to sing, Mr Rodd, sir. You're skipper now, and he must obey orders. It'll dous all good. "

"Well, " said Rodd, "it doesn't seem a very cheerful time to ask peopleto sing in the dark; but perhaps it will brighten us all up. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" came from the rest. 

"Am I to, Mr Rodd?" said the man appealingly; and after a little morepressing he struck up in a good musical tenor the old-fashioned sea songof "The Mermaid, " with its refrain of--

 "We jolly sailor boys were up, up aloft, And the land lubbers lying down below, below, below, And the land lubbers lying down below!"

right on through the several verses, telling of the sailors'superstition regarding its being unlucky to see a mermaid with a comband a glass in her hand, when starting upon a voyage, right on to thepiteous cry of the sailor boy about his mother in Portsmouth town, andhow that night she would weep for him, till the song ended with theaccount of how the ship went down and was sunk in the bottom of the sea. 

It was a wild sad air, sung there in the branches of that tree amidstthe darkness and night mist, and in spite of a certain beauty in themelody the singer's voice assumed a more and more saddened tone, till hefinished with the water seeming to hiss more loudly through the lowerbranches and the inundated trunks around, and then there was a sharpslapping noise on the surface of the stream that might very well havebeen taken for plaudits. 

Then there was a strange braying sound like a weirdly discordant fit oflaughter; and then perfect silence, with the darkness more profound thanever. 

"I'm blessed!" came at last from Joe. "Hark at him, Mr Rodd. He callshisself a messmate! Ast him, I did, to sing us a song to cheer us up. Why, it was bad enough to play for a monkey's funeral march. It's allvery well for you others to join in your chorus about jolly sailor boyssitting up aloft, but what about poor me sitting all the time in a coldhipsy bath, as they calls it in hospitals, expecting every moment tofeel the young crocs a-tackling my toes? Why, it's enough to make afellow call out for a clean pocket-handkerchy. Here, some on you, setto and spin us a yarn to take the taste of that out of our mouths. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBES. 

And so that awful night wore on, one story bringing forth another, andthe spinning of one yarn being followed by the spinning of one perhapslonger. 

It was anything to relieve the terrible tedium and beguile theirthoughts from the peril in which they were placed. The lapse of timewas discussed, and the possibility of the slackening of the furious flowof the falling river so that a boat might come down in search of theunfortunates, but to a man all came to the conclusion that nothing couldbe expected until daylight, and that they must bear their fate as bestthey might. 

The most cheerful thing that fell to their lot during the weary hourswas the announcement made from time to time by Joe Cross, that the waterwas sinking a little lower and a little lower, so that he had room tohope that after a while he too would be able to, as he put it, driphimself dry. 

But the monotony was terrible, and the morning seemed as if it wouldnever come. For it was far different from being in the temperate regionof the world, where in the summer months the darkness was slow to comeand was succeeded by a very early dawn. There in that tropical southernland they were where the twenty-four-hours day was pretty equallydivided into light and darkness, with scarcely any twilight to softendown the division. 

But still as everything comes to those who wait, so it was there, andJoe Cross announced at last that he was sitting quite clear of thewater, and therefore, as he judged it, they had not very much longer towait before it would be day. 

But he was wrong. What seemed to be an interminable time elapsed beforethe watchers could see for certain that a faint light seemed to bepiercing the dense grey mist that covered the river. But this did atlast become a certainty. 

Before long, on one side, grey and grim-looking beneath a heavy mist, the great river could be seen gliding steadily along, while away totheir right rose the primeval forest, rising as it were out of a sea ofshadow. 

The change came quickly then through a rapid twilight to the bright raysof the sunshine, which seemed to attack the river mist, piercing itthrough and through, routing it, and sending it in clouds rolling alongthe stream, while, now glistening and muddy, the banks showed out beyondthe trees amidst which the huge monarch in which they had taken refugestood towering almost alone. 

"Why, we must have come inshore for some distance last night, " criedRodd, in wonder. 

"Ay, my lad. Banks flooded. High tide perhaps, " said Joe bluffly. "Well, the sooner we gets down into this mud and stretches our legs thebetter; and if they don't come down in the boats, how we are going toget back is more than I know. "

"Look! Look yonder!" cried Rodd, as, sweeping the park-like stretcharound him, he suddenly caught sight of an object that filled his breastwith joy. 

"Three cheers, my lads, " shouted Joe, waving his hand, "and--Oh, holdhard! Avast there! Gig's safe to have a hole through her bottom. "

For there, about a hundred yards away, between the trees, lay somethinggleaming amongst the mud. 

He could only see a portion, but that was enough, and one by one, stiffand cold, the unfortunate party lowered themselves down from theirperches to drop into a thin surface of soft mud, the swift rush of thetide preventing it from accumulating to any depth. 

Their fortune was better than they anticipated, for on reaching theboat's side it was to find that, though bottom upward, she had escapedany serious injury, the yielding boughs into which she had been swepthaving checked the force of the concussion and left her to glide fromtangle of boughs to tangle, until she had been wedged into a huge forkand had from there slowly settled down. 

But there was neither oar nor boat-hook, and the line fastened to herforemost thwart had been snapped in two. 

"All her tackle gone, " said Joe grimly. "Well, we must try and find andhack off some big bamboo canes with our jack-knives, and then try if wecan't punt her up against the tide, which ought to be pretty slack bynow--that is, if they don't come to find us. "

"But look here, Joe, " cried Rodd, as he stood shading his eyes from thehorizontal sunbeams; "there's the river, and the mist's rolling alongwith the tide. Here, I'm puzzled. Which way did we come?"

"Why, that's plain enough, Mr Rodd, sir. Down with the stream yonway. "

"But that must be down-stream. "

"Nay, not it, my lad. The river winds, and so did my head. Here, I'mall of a maze still. No, I aren't. Here, I'm blest! Why, you areright, sir. That is up-stream, and--Hooray, my lads! One pole will do, to steer. We are going to be carried back again, for the tide's turnedand running up steady. "

A very little search resulted in their coming upon a bed of canes, outof which four were cut and trimmed, supplying them with good stout polestwelve or fourteen feet long, and laying these along the thwarts themen, glad now of the exercise to drive out the chill, insisted upon Roddgetting into the boat while they waded through the mud by her side, halflifting, half thrusting, and succeeded at last in getting her to where asloping portion of the bank ran down to the river. 

"Now all together, my lads, " cried Joe. "Keep step, and hold her wellin hand, for she'll soon begin to slide; and as soon as she reaches thewater, jump in. Make ready. I'll give the word. "

"Stop!" shouted Rodd. "What about the crocodiles?"

"Oh, murder!" cried Joe. "I forgot all about them. Well, never mind. This aren't no time to be nice. It's got to be done, so here goes. "

Rodd seized one of the poles, and going right to the bows knelt down inthe bottom, and holding the pole lance fashion, prepared to try and useit. 

"That won't be no good, my lad, " cried Joe. "Now, my lads--one, two, three! Off she goes!"

They ran the gig quickly down the muddy slope, and as they touched thewater and the foremost part began to float they took another step ortwo, gave her a final thrust, and sprang in, just as Rodd realised thetruth of the sailor's words, for as they glided out with tremendousforce, before they were a dozen yards from the water's edge the gig'sstem collided just behind two muddy-looking prominences that appearedabove the surface of the water, and as the shock sent the boy backwardsover the next thwart the boat, which was bounding up and down with theresult of the men springing in, received another shock from somethingdark which rose out of the water, and then they glided on past atremendous ebullition and were carried onward by the rising tide. 

"Here, let me come, Mr Rodd, " cried Joe Cross, as he scrambled forward. "Here, catch hold, sir, and help me drag my jersey over my head. Thebrute's stove us in, and if I don't look sharp--Pull, sir, pull--rightover my head! That's got it, " he cried, and he set to work thrustingthe woollen knitted shirt bit by bit along between the edges of two ofthe planks, through which the water was rapidly gurgling in. "There, "he said; "that'll keep some on it out; but don't all on you standlooking at me as if I was playing a conjuring trick. Get a couple ofthose poles over the sides. Nay, nay, it's no use to try to punt. Dessay the water's fathoms deep. Just keep her head straight, and letthe tide carry us on. Look out, my lads! There's another of them upyonder. See, Mr Rodd, sir--them two nubbles? Them's his eyes. Hejust keeps his beautiful muddy carcase all hid under water and squintsalong the top with them pretty peepers of hisn to look out for hisbreakfast. Keep back, sir; I believe he's coming on at us, big as theboat is. Oh, this is a pretty place, upon my word! He means me, because he can see my white skin. "

Instead of answering, Rodd picked up the bamboo pole, which had beenjerked from his hands when they encountered the other reptile. 

Three of the men followed his example of holding them ready to strike atwhat they could see of the crocodile, and as they were carried closer bythe tide and Rodd could just make out below the muddy surface that thewater was being stirred by the undulation of the tail of the monster, which was apparently fourteen or fifteen feet long, three poles weresharply thrust together, two of them coming in contact with thecreature's head just behind its eyes. 

The blows were heavy, having behind them the weight and impetus of theloaded boat, and once more there was a tremendous swirl in the water, asthe crocodile raised its head right out, turned completely over, displaying its pallid buff under portion, and then curved itself over, and in the act of diving down threw up its tail and struck the surfaceof the water with a blow that deluged the occupants of the cutter withspray. 

"Well, " cried Joe, as the boat glided on, "I don't know what you chapsthink of it, but I am getting warm again, and I call this 'ere sport. But I say, Mr Rodd, I am beginning to wish you was aboard the _Maid ofSalcombe_, and you'd took me with you. "

"Same 'ere, sir, " cried the men, in chorus. 

"See any more, Mr Rodd?"

"No, not yet, Joe. "

"Well, there's no hurry, sir. Let's get our breath. But do you callthis 'ere fishing or shooting?"

"There's another, " cried Rodd excitedly; "but it's going the other way. "

"Got to know perhaps, sir, how we upset t'other. But we can spare him, for I'll be bound to say there's plenty more of them. Now I wonder whatthey are all for--pretty creatures!"

"What they are for, Joe?" cried Rodd, without taking his eyes from thesurface of the muddy stream which was carrying them onward. 

"Yes, sir; I don't see as they are much good. I say, there's anotherone! No, he's ducked his head down. Ah, he's coming up again. Lookout, my lads!" cried the man. "I wish there was another pole. There'snothing left for me but my knife, and they are as hard as shoehorns, Iknow. I don't want to break my whittle against his skin. No, he'sgoing to let us go by. Ah! Look out!"

For as they drew nearer the sun flashed off the reptile's muddy skin, and they could see it glide round rapidly and strike two tremendousblows on the surface with its serrated tail--blows that had beenprobably directed at the boat, but which fell short, while in its blindstupidity it kept on thrashing the water several times after the vesselhad passed. 

"Ahoy! Ahoy!" came from somewhere, seeming to echo from the trees thatcovered the bank. 

"Ahoy! Ahoy!" shouted Joe Cross back. "Why, that means help, sir. Thebrig must be lying there, just round that bend beyond the trees. "

"Oh no, " cried Rodd excitedly. "We must have gone down miles with thetide. "

"Ahoy! Ahoy!" came again. "Boat ahoy!" from somewhere out of sight;and glancing back Rodd made out that they were passing along what seemedto be a rapid bend. 

"Ahoy!" was shouted back, and then all at once, to the astonishment ofthe sufferers, a couple of boats came into sight from right astern, their occupants sending the spray flying as they bent to their oars andseemed to be racing to overtake the gig. 

For the moment the boats, quite a quarter of a mile behind, took up alltheir attention, and Rodd stood up in the bows waving his hand wildly. 

"There's Uncle Paul, and the skipper, in one!" he cried. 

"Ay, ay, my lad; that's our old man, " shouted Joe. 

"And there's the Count, and eight men rowing hard, in the other, but--but--oh, I say, Morny isn't there!"

"Oh, he's being skipper and taking care of the brig, sir, " cried Joesharply, as he noted the boy's disappointed tone of voice. 

"No, he isn't, " shouted Rodd, signalling with his pole, as he saw one ofthe rowers rise up in the brig's boat and begin waving an oar; "he'spulling with the men!" And his voice sounded hoarse and choking, while, realising this fact, the boy coughed loudly and forcibly, as if to clearhis throat. 

"Here, you've ketched a cold, Mr Rodd, sir, " cried Joe. "But nevermind them behind in the boats. They'll ketch us up soon. There'sanother of them beauties coming at us. The beggars do seem hungry thismorning. We hardly seed any of them when we were coming up yesterday. Why, of course, this is their breakfast-time, and the sight of us hasmade them peckish. Now then, all together, lads! Let him have it. "

Four poles were thrust together, with somewhat similar effects to thoseon the last occasion, for the onset of the great reptile was diverted, the boat's head turned aside, and the blows aimed at them by thecreature's tail fell short, though to the men's dismay their efforts haddriven them towards another of the monsters, which was gliding towardsthem from their left. 

But here again they successfully turned the creature aside, and Roddexclaimed--

"Suppose we missed!"

"Oh, the beggars are too big to miss, sir, " cried Briggs. "But supposewe did; what then, sir?"

"I don't know, " cried Rodd excitedly. "What do you say, Joe?"

"I don't know, sir. I never learned crocodile at school, though therewas one in my spelling-book, and I 'member I couldn't understand why afour-legged chap like him, as lived in the water, should make a nest andlay eggs like a bird. Here, Harry, let me handle that pole for a fewminutes. I should like to have a turn. Thank you, lad, " he continued. "Yes, they're rum beasts, Mr Rodd, sir, and I dare say they are veryslippery; but I don't suppose I shall miss the next one--Ah! Wouldyer!" he shouted as one of the reptiles rose suddenly, open-mouthed, close to the boat's head. 

As the man spoke he made a heavy thrust with his pole, his companionshaving no time to take aim, and the next moment the hideous jaws snappedto, there was a fresh swirl, the bamboo pole was jerked out of Joe'shand, and he would have overbalanced himself and gone overboard had notthose nearest to him seized him and snatched him back. 

"Well, now, " he cried, "just look at that!" For about half of thebamboo remained visible and went sailing up the stream. 

Just then there was the sharp report of a gun from behind, followed byanother, while before there was time for re-loading there was the loud_crack, crack_ of a double fowling-piece. 

"Hurrah! That's uncle!" cried Rodd. "They are firing at thecrocodiles, and it will be with bullets. "

"And sarve them jolly well right, Mr Rodd, say I, " cried Joe, "for Icall it taking a mean advantage of a man to sneak off like that with hispole. Why, look at him, sir. He's having a regular lark with it--picking his teeth, or something. Look how he's waggling the top of itabout. What do you say to try and steer after him and get it back?"

"Ugh! No!" cried Rodd. "It would be madness. "

"Well, not quite so bad as that, sir. Say about half-cracked; andthat's about what I'm beginning to think. I say, they are getting allthe fun behind there. "

"Look out; here comes another!" cried Rodd, for there was a pair of eyesin front gliding rapidly towards them just above the water, butapparently not satisfied with the appearance of the boat, or perhapsless ravenous, the two prominences softly disappeared before they wereclose up, and Joe Cross, evidently divining what might happen, suddenlycaught Rodd round the waist and forced him down into the bottom of theboat. 

"Look out, my lads!" he yelled. 

As he spoke the hinder part of the boat began slowly to rise, showingthat they were gliding right over a reptile's back. Then it was turnedto starboard, the water coming almost to the edge; but as it glided onit began to sink to the level again, just as it received a heavy shockfrom below and was driven forward with a jerk just far enough to escapea blow from a serrated tail which rose astern and showered the waterover them in so much blinding spray. 

"Here, ahoy there!" shouted Joe. "Look alive, and bring up them guns!There's more sport up here than we want. I wouldn't care, Mr Rodd, ifwe had got our oars and my boat-hook. Nay, I don't know, though. It'sjust as well I haven't, for I should be getting it stuck perhaps, andnever see that no more. "

A few minutes after, while the firing was kept up from astern, the twoboats came up on either side, and amidst the heartiest ofcongratulations Rodd cried--

"Ah, uncle, you have overtaken us at last! I am glad you have come!"

"Overtaken you, my boy! Why, we have been miles down the river towardsthe mouth. We started as soon as the tide was slack enough for us toleave the vessels. We must have passed you in the fog, and we werebeginning to despair. But we came upon one of the sailors' caps hangingin a bough, when, thinking that perhaps we had gone too far, and CaptainChubb feeling sure that you had run ashore somewhere in the darkness, perhaps been carried right into the flooded forest, we came back and--"

He ceased speaking, took a quick aim over the side of the boat, anddischarged the contents of his double gun into the head of a reptilewhich rose three or four yards away. 

"The brutes!" he went on. "But there don't appear to be so many here. We seem to have been coming through quite a shoal. "

"There's plenty of them, " growled the skipper, "but three boats togetherscares them a bit. Here, my lads, lay hold of this line and make fast, and we will give you a tow back to the schooner. We shan't be longgetting up to it with this tide. Why, hallo here! Not content withlosing the oars and boat-hook, you've been and got the gig stove in!And the grapnel gone too! Here, you Joe Cross, what's the meaning ofall this?"

"I'll tell you about that, captain, by and by, " said Rodd quickly. "What's that? You want to come aboard, Morny? No, you had better not. It's all muddy, and we shall have to begin baling. Pitch us in a coupleof tins. "

"I'll bring them, " cried the young Frenchman, rising in the boat. --"Yes, my father, I wish to go. Hook on, and let me get aboard, " he continuedto the French coxswain. 

Half-an-hour later, with the men taking it in turns to bale, and withthe crocodiles seeming to have become more scarce, they ran up alongsideof the two anchored vessels, cheering and being cheered from the momentthey came into sight. 

"Now, my lads, " cried the doctor, "every one of you take what I'll mixup for you directly, and have a good bathe and rub down. I am not goingto have you all down with fever if I can stave it off. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

TALKING LIKE A BOY. 

Perhaps it was nearly all weariness and the result of the excitement, but it may have been due to Uncle Paul's potion; at any rate Rodd wentoff fast asleep, and when he awoke it was to find Morny sitting by hiscot. "Hullo!" he cried. "You here!"

"Yes, I am here, " was the reply. "How are you?"

"Oh, I am all right. Have I been to sleep?"

"Well, yes, you have been to sleep, " said Morny, smiling at him in arather peculiar way. 

"What are you laughing at?"

"Oh, I was only smiling at you. "

"What, am I scratched and knocked about?"

"Oh, very slightly. "

"But I say, I am so precious hungry. What time is it?"

"Just upon six. Some bells or another, as you call it. "

"Get out! Why, it was seven o'clock this morning when I lay down tosleep after my bath; so how can it be six o'clock? You don't mean tosay that it is six o'clock in the evening?"

"Indeed, but I do. You had better jump up, or it will soon be dark. "

"What a nuisance! Why, I must have slept twelve hours. "

"Oh, you think so, do you? Yes, a good deal more than that. I wasgetting quite alarmed about you, only your uncle said you were quiteright and you were to have your sleep out. "

"I say, look here, " cried Rodd; "am I dreaming, or are you playingtricks? I am getting muddled over this. I lay down this morning, andas soon as my head was on the pillow I must have gone off fast asleep. "

"Yes, but it was yesterday morning. "

Rodd sat up quickly in his cot and screwed himself round to stare hardin his companion's face. 

"Look here, " he cried, "you are playing tricks!"

"Indeed I'm not! You've been sleeping for about a day and a half. "

"Well!" cried Rodd, beginning to dress hurriedly. "But never mind. Iwill make up for it by not going to sleep for a whole day. Look here, you know what's been going on. Where are we? Going up farther so as toget a mooring-place?"

"We came up yesterday, miles higher up the river, and the brig's mooredclose by an open part of the shore. There, make haste and finishdressing and come and look. "

The lad dressed himself probably more quickly than he had ever achievedthe performance before in his life, and in the process he learned thathis uncle and Captain Chubb were on board the brig with several of themen, the skipper superintending the moorings and the arranging of cablesfrom the brig to a couple of great forest trees, with tackle so orderedthat the vessel could be careened over to any extent desired, and thatthe next morning she was to be allowed to sink with the tide so as to bebedded in the mud and laid over until the bottom was so exposed that thecarpenter and his mates could get to work. 

As soon as Rodd had hurried on deck he found all as his companion haddescribed, while he had just mastered these facts when there was thesharp report of a gun. 

"What's that?" he cried. 

"Oh, only your uncle having a shot at a crocodile. Both he and myfather have been at it all day, sending bullets into them whenever ahead appeared on the surface of the water. "

"But I say, look here, Morny; why didn't this wake me?"

"Oh, you were shut up down here and too fast asleep. "

"Then that would be uncle's dose, " cried Rodd. "He must have given metoo much. Why, he might have killed me. "

"Oh no. I expect he knew too well what he was about. He seems to havekept off the fever. "

"Fever, yes! Has anybody else got it?"

"No. Your men are quite well. "

"But they didn't sleep as long as I have?" cried Rodd anxiously. 

"Not quite; but they all had very long sleeps, and my father says thatthey would have been longer if their messmates had not disturbed them. Now then, you had better go back to your cabin again. The steward toldme that he was keeping some breakfast ready for you to have at anytime. "

"Wait a bit, " cried Rodd, and he hailed his uncle and Captain Chubbbefore having a good look round at their position, and finding that theywere in a beautiful open reach of the river, with the forest overhangingthe stream on one side, while on that where the brig was seated close inshore there were only a few scattered trees, and those of large size, for the main portion of the forest had retired back nearly a quarter ofa mile. 

The next morning, as arrangements had been made to begin work atdaylight, Captain Chubb and certain of the men, including Joe Cross, hadtheir breakfasts by lamplight, and were on board the brig long beforethe sun rose. 

Then came a busy time, with everybody anxiously watching for the successof Captain Chubb's plans. 

He took his place upon the brig with the schooner's carpenter, the twolads bargaining that they might stay too, and as the tide sank the brig, which had been hauled in close to the bank at high water, soon touchedbottom, her keel settling down steadily into the mud, and in due timebegan to careen over more and more, her progress being governed by acouple of capstans that had been arranged upon the shore. This went onuntil long before low water she was lying so much over on her side awayfrom the shore that the sail that had been used as a plaister, as Roddcalled it, was slackened off, and one of the holes made by the cannonball fully exposed to view. 

Then followed a busy time, the carpenter and his mates stripping off thecopper and using their saws hour after hour as long as the tide left theleak bare, while after working as long as was possible, pieces of newthin plank were temporarily nailed on over the now much-enlargedopening, which was carefully caulked and all made as secure as possible. 

This done, the capstans were manned again, and with the rising tide thebrig raised to her proper position, and secured for the night, buthauled in as close to the shore as was possible, with the consequencethat though the water rose through the untouched leak considerably, itnever reached so high within as the point it had occupied with the pumpshard at work. 

It proved to be a much longer job than had been anticipated, though themen worked as hard as was possible while the tide was low. 

But the time passed very pleasantly for Rodd and his uncle, for theytook their stations on board the anchored schooner, firing at everycrocodile that showed itself, the presence of the men at work upon themuddy exposed shore proving an irresistible attraction during the firstpart of the time. But so many had been sent writhing and lashing thewater, to float down-stream, that at last they began to grow shy, andthe sportsmen were enabled to direct some of their charges of small shotat specimens of beautiful birds that came within range, as well as atthe abundant waterfowl--ducks and geese--that gathered morning andevening to feed, but often to become food for the hideous reptiles thatlurked beneath the trees close in shore. 

This latter sport proved highly welcome to the crews of both vessels, providing as it did a pleasant change of diet after so much saltprovision, for very few fish were caught, consequent upon the way inwhich they were persecuted by the reptiles. 

"I wish you would join in. I am sure you can shoot well, " said Rodd;but Morny shook his head. 

"No, " he said; "my father is so anxious to see the brig repaired. "

"Yes, I suppose so, " said Rodd, "but that wouldn't make any difference. You can't help. "

"No, I cannot help, " replied the lad, "and I should like to be with youall the time, but I can't leave his side. It would seem so hard if Ididn't stay with him to share his anxiety. "

"Well, but you might have a few shots at the crocodiles. That's helpingto protect the men who are at work. "

"True, " replied Morny, smiling. "But you two are such clever shots. You can do all that. Don't ask me again, please. "

Rodd was silent. 

But during the long dark evenings in that grand and solitary reach ofthe river, which looked as if it had never been visited by human beingsbefore, there would have been most enjoyable times had not the Countseemed so preoccupied and thoughtful. Still it had become the customthat there should be a constant interchange of courtesies between theoccupants of the two vessels, the sailors thoroughly fraternising, whiletheir superiors alternately dined together upon schooner or brig, and athorough rivalry sprang up between the English and French cooks as towho should provide the best meals for officers and men. 

"I should like for us to make an excursion right up the river as far aswe could go in the boats, " said Rodd one evening, to his Frenchcompanion. "Uncle wants to go. "

"Then why don't you?" said Morny. "You have plenty of time, " he added, with a sigh, "for the repairs go on very slowly. One of the leaks isnot stopped yet. "

"They are not going on slowly, " retorted Rodd. "I talked to CaptainChubb about it, and he said the work must be thoroughly done, so as tomake the brig as good as ever she was. "

"Yes, they are doing it well, " said Morny sadly. 

"He said--" continued Rodd, with a laugh; and then he stopped short. 

"Well, why don't you go on?"

"Oh, never mind. You wouldn't like it. You are sensitive, and it mighthurt your feelings. "

"I promise you it shall not. Tell me what the captain said. "

"Well, he said he wasn't going to have any Frenchmen throw it in histeeth that he hadn't done his best because it was a French boat, andthat he was taking more pains over it than he should have done if it hadbeen ours. "

Morny laughed. 

"Oh yes, " he said, "I know he is doing his best, and I wouldn't care, only my father is so anxious to get to sea again. "

"Well, all in good time, " cried Rodd. "They are fitting the coppersheathing on again, and to-morrow they will begin careening the brigover so as to get at the other side. "

"Ha! Yes, " said the French lad, with a sigh of satisfaction. "Well, you take your boat to-morrow, and plenty of men and ammunition, and goon a good long excursion. "

"Shan't, " said Rodd gruffly. 

"But why not?"

"Aren't going without you. "

"What nonsense! I'm busy. You are free. "

"I am not. If we went away leaving you alone with a brig that won'tswim, who knows what would happen? The crocs would send the news all upand down the river that we were gone away, and come on at you with arush. "

"That's absurd! You talk like a boy. "

"Well, I am one. Yes, that is nonsense. But suppose a whole tribe ofniggers came down out of the forest to attack you. "

"They couldn't. You know yourself that the forest is impassable exceptto wild beasts. "

"Well, then, perhaps they would come down, or up--yes, up; they wouldn'tcome down, and find you helpless, because we should meet them and comeback to help you. "

"We could fight, " said Morny coolly, "and sink their canoes with the bigguns. "

"What, when they are fast lashed to one side, and your deck all of aslope? No, we are not going, so don't bother about it any more. Whoknows but what there may be towns of savages right up inland, or up someother river farther along the coast? I dare say it's a beautifulcountry--and there, I won't hear another word. We are not going away toleave you in the lurch. Uncle said as much. He likes the Count toowell. "

Morny laughed merrily. 

"Why, " he said, "he's always quarrelling with my father and hurting hisfeelings by the way in which he speaks about our great Emperor. "

"Stuff!" cried Rodd indignantly. "That's only Uncle Paul's way. Healways talks like that when he gets on to politics. Why, I have a shamquarrel with him sometimes about Napoleon. I pretend that I admire himvery much. "

"Pretend!" cried Morny eagerly. 

"Well, I tell uncle that he was a very great general and soldier. "

"Yes, yes! Grand!" said the French lad, flushing. 

"And that I shouldn't have wondered at all if he had conquered the wholeworld. "

"Yes, yes!" cried Morny excitedly. "That was brave of you! And whatdid your uncle say?"

"Said I was a young scoundrel, and that if I wasn't so big, and that hedisliked corporal punishment, he'd give me a good thrashing to bring meto my senses. "

"And you--you--" cried Morny, grasping him by the arm, "what did you sayto that?"

"Nothing at all. Only burst out laughing. "

"Burst out laughing?"

"Yes, and then Uncle Paul would grunt out `Humbug!' and we were goodfriends again. "

The young Frenchman shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 

"Ah, yes, " he said. "Even those who worshipped him mock at the Emperornow that he is in misfortune--even you, Rodd. But I can forgive you, because you are English and the natural enemies of our great Emperor. But those of our countrymen--cowards and slaves--parasites of the newKing. _Laches_! Cowards! But let us talk of something else. You makeme like you, Rodd. You always did, and--"

"Ah-h-h! Getting on dangerous ground. Now look here; will you comewith us shooting?"

"No. I have told you why. "

"Well, I am horribly disappointed. But I like you for it all the more, Morny. You are a regular trump to your father. "

"I!" cried the young man fiercely. "I play the trumpet to my father!Never! If I praise him it is all the truth, because he is so honest andbrave and good. "

"Why, what's the matter now?" cried Rodd in astonishment. "Oh, I see--trump! You don't know all our English expressions yet. Where's yourdictionary?"

"There was no such word in it that I do not understand, " cried the lad. 

"Then it isn't a good one, " said Rodd merrily. 

Explanations followed, and the two lads parted that evening, both eagerfor the coming of the following day and the attack that was to be madeupon the second leak where the ball from the fort had made its exit onthe other side nearer the keel. 

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

A PROPOSED ADVENTURE. 

It was a busy and an anxious day. The brig's guns had been carefullyran to starboard and firmly lashed, and the yards lowered down, hertopmasts struck, and all made ready for laying her right over in the mudat low water, so that her spars should be upon the shore. 

"It wouldn't do to lay her over like this, " said the skipper gruffly, "if she were full of cargo. It would mean a bad shifting. But I thinkwe can manage, and I'll risk it. We can easily start her water casks. "

There was no question of shooting that day, Rodd preferring to stay withhis French friend; and the doctor seemed to quite share the Count'sanxiety as they watched the proceedings of the sailors while the tidewent down. 

But everything went on admirably. As the water sank a steady strain waskept upon the cables, and by slow degrees the brig careened over towardsthe land till the newly-repaired side sank lower and lower, and she laymore and more over, till at last the water that had flooded the holdbegan to flow out with the tide till the beautiful vessel lay perfectlyhelpless upon her side, with the whole of her keel visible upon the longstretch of mud. Then Captain Chubb, taking hold of a rope which he hadmade fast to the larboard rail, climbed over on to the brig's side, andsteadying himself by the cord, walked right down and stood shaking hishead at the ghastly wound which the vessel had received. 

For after passing right through the hold, the cannon ball had struckupon and shattered one of what are technically called the ship's knees, ripping off a great patch of the planking and tearing through the coppersheathing, which was turned back upon the keel, making a ragged holeseveral times the size of the fairly clean-cut orifice by which the shothad entered. 

"You had better come and have a look here, Count, " cried the captain--aninvitation which was accepted by several of those interested, and in avery short time an anxious group was gathered round the vessel's injury. 

"Well, sir, " said the skipper, in his rough, brusque way; "what do yousay to that?"

"Horrible!" groaned the Count. "My poor vessel!" And he looked at thecaptain in despair. 

"Well, sir, " said the latter, "if anybody had told me that I could makea patch with sails over the bottom of your brig so as to keep her afloatas I have, I should have felt ready to call him a fool. It's a wonderto me that you kept her afloat as you did, before you came to us forhelp. "

"But now, captain, " cried the Count, as his son looked anxiously on, "isit possible, away from a shipyard, to mend this as well as you have donethe other injury?"

"Well, sir, if we were close to some port I should say, no, certainlynot; but seeing where we are, there's only one thing to be done. "

"Yes? And that--?" cried the Count. 

"Do it, sir. But it will take some time. "

The Count made an impatient gesticulation, and then threw his handsapart in a deprecating way, as if he accepted the position in despair. 

"Yes, " he said; "you brave Englishmen, you never give up. You will doit, then?"

"Oh yes, sir; we've got to do it; and what do they say? Time and tidewait for no man; so I'll thank you all to clear off and let me and mylads get to work. Only look here, sir; there's going to be no hoistingand lowering here. We shall have to keep the brig lying on her sidewithout any temporary patches, and the tide will have to flow in andout, even if it does some damage to your stores. So while my lads arestripping off the copper, you will keep your men busy with your hatchesopen to make a pretty good clearance inside, so that we can work inthere as well as out here. "

"Yes, yes, " said the Count, who seemed to quite resign himself in fullobedience to the skipper's wishes. "But you will use all the speed youcan?"

"You may trust me for that, sir, " said Captain Chubb; for after two orthree attempts in the early parts of the proceedings connected with therepairs, and saying Monsieur le Count, the blunt Englishman gave it upin favour of plain straightforward "sir, " and stuck to it; while thetitled captain seemed to like the Englishman none the less. 

"Now, " said the captain, as he climbed back on to the sloping deck, following the others, "I didn't know that your brig would be so bad asthis, but I had my suspicions, and when I have not been busy here I havebeen casting my eye round for a good crooked bit of timber that wouldmake a ship's knee if I wanted one. "

"And do you know where there is one?"

"Yes, " said the skipper; "and I think it will make a very goodmakeshift, for the wood's as hard as hard. But what wouldn't I give fora good old crooked piece of Devon oak from out of Dartmoor Forest!"

Shortly afterwards he had set the carpenter and his mates to strip offthe copper sheathing, while he led off Joe Cross and another man about aquarter of a mile away from the river bank to where a huge pollard-liketree was growing at the edge of the forest, all gnarled and twisted inthe most extraordinary way. 

The two lads had followed them, and Rodd looked at the selected treeaghast. 

"Why, you are never going to set the men to cut down that tree, captain?" he cried. 

"Why not, my lad? Do you know a better bit?"

"Better bit!" cried Rodd. "Why, the men can hardly get through thatwith those axes. Most likely take them a fortnight--I might say amonth. "

"Ah, well, I don't want it all. I am not going to load up the brig witha cargo of timber. I only want that big dwarf branch from low downthere where it starts from close to the root; and you will mind and getthat big elbow-like piece as long as you can, Joe Cross. "

"Ay, ay, sir! Just you mark out what you want, and we'll cut accordin'. Better take all the top off first, hadn't us?"

"Why, of course, my lad. One of you use the saw while the other worksaway with an axe. You quite understand?"

"Ay, ay, sir; me and my mate has seen a ship's knee afore now;" androlling up their sleeves, they soon made the place echo with the blowsof the axe, while the rasping harsh sound of the saw seemed to excite aflock of beautifully-plumaged parrots, which began to circle round thehead of the tree, before finally settling amongst the branches utteringtheir sharp screeching cries, and giving vent to croaking barks, as ifresenting this attack upon their domain. 

The carpenter and his men were meanwhile hard at work at the coppersheathing, making such progress that they were busy with their saws, dividing plank and trenail and working their way round the hole by thetime the tide had risen sufficiently to drive them back, and then theCount and his party grouped themselves as best they could about theirold quarters, looking despondently at what seemed like the beginning ofa very hopeless wreck, a good deal of confidence being needed on theirpart to feel that all would come right in the end. 

Fortunately the tide during the next two or three days did not rise sohigh, and good progress was made, while, thanks to the way in which theFrench crew had worked, the damage done by the water as it flowed inthrough the gap that was made was principally confined to its leaving athick deposit of mud. 

The doctor tried all he could to persuade the Count to take up his abodeupon the schooner, and offered to accommodate as many men as he liked tobring with him, but he would not hear of it, and, as Rodd saidlaughingly to Morny, insisted upon living all upon one side and climbinginstead of walking about the deck. 

Then all at once there was a surprise. It was on the third day, whenJoe Cross and his mate had called in the aid of a couple more to helpdrag the ponderous roughed-out piece of crooked timber to the watersideready for the carpenter and his men to work into shape with their adzes, and while the latter were slaving away at high pressure to get allpossible done before they were stopped by the tide, that, in obedienceto a shout from Captain Chubb, all the men of the schooner's crewhurried to their boat to get on board, while those of the brig hurriedto their arms ready for any emergency. For coming up with the tide andround a bend of the river, a large three-masted schooner made itsappearance with what seemed to be quite a large crew of well-armed menclustering forward, and apparently surprised at seeing that the riverhad its occupants already there. 

"What do you make of them, sir?" shouted the skipper through hisspeaking trumpet. 

"A foreigner--Spanish, I think, " shouted back the Count, after loweringhis spy-glass. "Same here, sir. Slaver, I think. " The fact of herproving to be a slaver did not mean that an attack was looming in thefuture, but slaving vessels upon the West Coast of Africa bore a verybad reputation, and the preparations that were rapidly made did notpromise much of a welcome. 

As the stranger drew near it was evident that busy preparations werebeing made there too, but in his brief colloquy with Uncle Paul theskipper grunted out that he did not think the foreign vessel meant toattack, but to be ready to take care of herself in case the Englishschooner tried to surprise her and make her a prize. 

"We ought to have taken the boat, " he said, "and gone up. It seems tome that there must be a town up there somewhere--savage town, of course, belonging to some chief, for it aren't likely that there can be three ofus all coming out here into this river on a scientific cruise. Two'scurious enough, English and French, but a Spaniel won't do at all. Forthat's what she is, sir, plain enough. Well, if she means fight, sir, you mean business, I suppose?"

"Of course, " said the doctor sternly; "and I am quite sure that we candepend upon the Count's help. "

"Ay, ay, sir; but it's a bad job the brig can't manoeuvre at all. "

"But I should say, " said the doctor, "that when these men see how firmwe are and well prepared, they will prove peaceable enough. "

As it proved in a short time after colours had been hoisted, those ofthe French brig being raised upon a spare spar, the stranger camesteadily on in the most peaceable way till the tide had carried herwithin reasonable distance of the schooner's anchorage, when an orderrang out, an anchor was lowered with a splash, and as she swung slowlyround, a light boat was dropped from the davits, and a swarthy-lookingSpaniard, who seemed to be an officer if not the skipper of theswift-looking raking craft, had himself rowed alongside the schooner. Abrief colloquy took place in which questions and answers freely passed, Captain Chubb speaking out frankly as to the object of their missionthere, an avowal hardly necessary, for the appearance of the brig withthe newly-cut hole, and her position, told its own story. 

The Spanish skipper, for so he proved to be, was just as free in hisannouncements as soon as he found that the brig and schooner werefriendly vessels, and began to explain that he was on a tradingexpedition, that there was a king of the country up there, a great blackchief, who had a large town, and that he came from time to time withstores to barter, which he always did with great advantage, going awayafterwards pretty well laden with palm-oil and sundries, which theblacks always had waiting for his annual visit, these sundriesincluding, he said, with a meaning laugh, ostrich feathers, choice dyewoods, ivory, and a little gold. 

He spoke strongly accented but very fair English, and made no scrupleabout coming on board the schooner and examining her critically as hetalked. 

"I thought at first, captain, that you had found out my private tradingport and were going to be a rival;" whereupon the doctor began chattingfreely with him and asking questions about the natural products of theplace; and Rodd listened eagerly, drinking in the replies made by theSpanish captain as soon as he thoroughly realised the object of theschooner's visit and the bearing of the doctor's questions. 

He soon became eagerly communicative regarding the wild beasts thathaunted the forests, the serpents that were found of great size, theleopards and other wild cats that might be shot for their skins, thebeauty of the plumage of the birds, and above all the wondrous size ofthe apes that haunted the trees. 

"There's gold too to be washed out of the soil, " he said, looking hardat Rodd; "but don't you touch it. Leave that to the blacks. "

"Why?" said Rodd. 

"Because, " said the man, shaking a fore-finger at him, upon which was athick gold ring, "the white men who turn up the wet earth to wash it outget fever. "

"But, " said the doctor, "we have not come gold-hunting. And so thereare great apes in these forests? Have you seen them?"

"Oh, yes, " said the Spanish captain. "I have been coming here for tenyears, and never saw another vessel up here before--only the big canoesof the blacks. Why, I could take you into the forest and show youplenty of beautiful birds and flowers, and all kinds of wonders. "

"But the forest seems to be impassable, " put in Rodd. 

"Yes, " said the Spaniard, with a laugh--"to those who don't know theirway. Higher up there are small rivers which run into this, where boatscan go up and get to where the trees are not all crowded together, butmore open like this patch here, " he continued, waving his hand to wherethe forest retired back. "There are sluggish streams where you canwander for days, and camp ashore, and shoot all kinds of things. I usedto at one time, when it was all new to me; and I collected skins andsent them to Cadiz and other European cities, where they sold well. ButI have given all that up long enough. The black king--bah!--chief--he'sonly a savage. He makes his people collect the palm-oil and otherthings for me, and I load up and take them back. "

"Then you would make a good guide, " said the doctor. 

"I, captain?" said the man eagerly. "Oh yes. A man could not come herefor ten years, and stay a month or two each time, without getting toknow the country well. "

"I suppose not. But this is the captain. I am only a doctor, travelling to make discoveries. "

"Ah, a doctor!" cried the Spaniard eagerly. "Then you will help me andone or two of my men! Yes? I will pay you well. "

"Oh, " said the doctor quietly, "if I can help you, or any one with youwho needs assistance, I will do so, of course. I want no pay, but Imight ask you to guide me and my nephew here in a little expedition ortwo into the forest. "

"Uncle, " said Rodd quickly, "we mustn't leave the Count and Morny. "

"Well, well, " said the doctor, "we'll see about that. "

"I am glad to know you, Senor Medico, " said the Spaniard, patting on thestiffness of the formal Don and bowing profoundly, "and I will gladlyhelp you in any way I can. But I am only a poor trader, and glad to doany business I can when I meet a strange ship that has needs. Do youwant powder? I see you have guns, " he said sharply. 

"Oh yes, " said the doctor. "One never knows what enemies one may meetwith among savage people; so we are well-armed, and as you see have agood crew. "

"Yes, yes, " said the Spaniard, looking sharply round. 

"But I thank you. We have plenty of powder. "

"So have I, " said the Spaniard. "The black chief is always glad to buyit, and guns too. That is my money--that and rum. Those will alwaysbuy palm-oil. But I have plenty of ship stores; canvas, oakum, andpitch. You are mending the other ship, I see. Can I sell you some?"

"I thank you, no, " said the doctor. "We are well supplied, I think, with everything; and in reply, if there is anything you want that we cansupply to you I shall be pleased. "

"Then I should like a few canisters of your good English powder. "

"Thought you said you'd plenty, " said Captain Chubb gruffly. 

The Spaniard closed his eyes slowly till they were like two narrowslits, and he gave the skipper a meaning nod. 

"Yes, " he said significantly, "I have plenty. It is good for the blackman's guns. But if you fired it from yours--pff! It makes much smoke, and the barrel very wet, and the shot do not go too far. But the blackmen know no better. I do. Ha, ha! You will let me have a few poundsfor my own pistols?"

"And that long gun of yours too?" said the skipper. 

"Yes, " said the Spaniard. "As your medico says, one never knows whatsavage people one may meet. It is good too behind a bullet for ourfriends here in the river. You have seen them?"

He put his wrists together with his palms closed, and then slowly openedthem widely in imitation of a crocodile's jaws, and closed them with asnap. 

"Oh yes, " said Rodd, "we have met them, and found out how horny theirskins are. "

"Ugh! Beasts!" said the Spaniard. "Last time I was here they swept twoof my men out of a boat, and I never saw them more. We caught some fishas we came up the river, at the mouth. _Adios, senores_; I will sendyou some. We shall meet again. I do not hurry for some days, for I ambefore my time. "

"How far is it up to the town?" asked Captain Chubb. 

"Three days' journey. This is a great river, and the water is deepright up into the country till you reach the mountains, far beyond thetown. "

"Well, " said the doctor, "let's go ashore, Rodd, and tell the Count. Wedidn't bargain for this, eh, captain?"

"No, " said the skipper gruffly, as he watched the departing boat, afterordering the crew back into their own so as to row the doctor and hisnephew to the brig. 

"Well, Rodd, " continued the doctor, "it would be a grand chance for usto have some expeditions with a good guide. What do you think of theSpanish captain?"

"Don't like him at all, uncle. There's a nasty, catty, foxy look abouthim. "

"A mixture of the feline and the canine, eh, my boy? Well, he must be abad one! Ah! British prejudice is as strong in you as it is in me. "

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

SPANISH LIQUORICE. 

There was quite a discussion when the doctor joined those waiting by thebrig, the Count being bitterly annoyed and displaying more excitementthan the others had seen in him before, while Morny kept close to hisside, and whispered to him from time to time, as if trying to calm himdown. 

"Yes, yes, my son, " he cried passionately, and speaking to him inFrench; "but you are a boy, and do not think. Look here, " and hepointed to the helpless brig, "how do we know but that he may be anenemy? And we are in this helpless state, quite at his mercy. "

The doctor was listening attentively, and understood every word. 

"I know, " he said soothingly, "this must be very painful for you; butCaptain Chubb believes that before many days are over the brig will beas strong as ever. I answer for him that he is making every effort tofinish what he has undertaken. "

Uncle Paul directed a glance at the skipper, who stood scowling closeby. 

"Thank you, doctor, " he granted, as he gave a nod. "And I feel surethat this Spanish captain, who is evidently an ordinary trader, willprove perfectly inoffensive; and besides, my dear sir, we are not at warnow, and what enemies can you have to fear?"

"Ah, yes, " said the Count bitterly, as he made a deprecating gesturewith his hands, turning and directing his words at his son; "whatenemies can we have to fear?"

"Well, I am glad you look upon it in that light, " said the doctor. "Now, if it had been years ago, with your smart little craft, and youhad been followed up here by a small sloop of war, or an English letterof marque, you might have expected to be made a prize. But this is anordinary Spanish schooner, and though I suspected it at first, I don'tthink she is tainted by the slave trade, but engaged in traffic with thenatives for the sake of palm-oil. "

"Perhaps you are right, sir, " said the Count. 

"I feel sure I am, " said the doctor, "and I must confess to havinghailed this man's coming, from the help he will be to me in a littleexpedition I propose to make when we have seen the brig restored and allset right. "

"I thank you, " said the Count, "but I am so anxious for the success ofmy own scientific search that I have got into the habit of seeingenemies in every one, even as I did, doctor, in you and your men. Andyou see this is an armed vessel with a very strong crew. "

"Well, " said the doctor good-humouredly, "we have armed vessels withvery strong crews. Anxiety has made you nervous, Count. Here's yourdoctor, " he said, turning to Captain Chubb, "and before many days havepassed he will have cured all your trouble, and we can get to seaagain. "

"Ah, yes, that will be better, " said the Count, wiping his moist brow. "You must forgive me, doctor--and you too, Captain Chubb. I amimpatient, I know. But I see now all will be well. One moment, though:you said we can get to sea again. _We_? You will sail with me?"

"My dear sir, " said the doctor, "you need have no fear. Captain Chubbwill make your brig as sound as ever. You will need to look for nofurther assistance from me. "

"I did not mean that, " said the Count hastily. "I meant brotherlyhelp--the help that one devoted to research could give to another. "

"But, " said the doctor, laughing, "you have never confided to me whatparticular form of research yours is. "

"No, I have not, " said the Count hurriedly, "and I ask you to spare mefrom explanation. Be satisfied if I say that we are both bound upongreat missions, and that you, a brother scientist, can give me enormoushelp by working in company with me for the next few weeks at most. Isthis too much to ask of a learned doctor like you?"

"Oh no, " said Uncle Paul good-humouredly; "I do not see that it is. Youare not going to ask me to help you to escape from an English prison. "

The Count gave an involuntary start. 

"Of course not, " said the doctor, "for I am thankful that all that kindof trouble is at an end, and that France and England are at peace; andbesides, you are free to come and go where you please. Well, as yourson and my nephew have become such inseparable friends, and my time ismy own, I will ask no questions, but sail where you sail, and pick upwhat I can to complete my specimens while you continue your research;and believe me, I wish you every success. "

"Ah, " said the Count, with a sigh of satisfaction; and with all aFrenchman's effusiveness he laid his hands on the doctor's shoulders andsaid, with some little show of emotion, "I thank you. You are making meas great a friend as my son is to your nephew. "

Watch was mounted on both vessels at night as if they were in thepresence of a dangerous enemy; but there in the great solitude of thatforest through which the river ran, there was nothing human to disturbthe night. 

Savage nature was as busy as ever during the dark hours through whichthe creatures of land and water fled for their lives or pursued theirprey. Otherwise everything was wondrously still, and those uponschooner or brig who might have felt doubtful about the Spanish craftsaw or heard nothing save the low murmur of voices in conversation andthe occasional opening or shutting of a dull lantern, whose use wasexplained by the sudden glow cast upon the face of some swarthy sailoras he lit a fresh cigarette, after which a couple of faint points ofglowing light rising and falling might have been seen passing to and froupon the Spaniard's deck. 

Then as daylight came again there was the busy sound of the saw, chipping of the adze, the creak of auger, and the loud echoing rap ofthe mallet, as some tree-nail was driven home. 

On the previous evening the conversation that had gone on between thedoctor and the Count had hardly ended before the Spaniard's boat, rowedby a couple of men, came as near as they could get to the brig, and oneof the bare-legged men, after giving a sharp look round into the shallowwater, as if in search of danger from one of the hideous reptiles on thelook-out for prey, stepped over into the mud, and came up, bearing abasket of large, freshly-caught fish, which he placed in the hands of acouple of the sailors, and then stood waiting. 

"Ah!" cried the doctor. "The fish the Spanish captain promised me. Ourthanks to your master, and I will not forget what he wanted. "

The man answered him in Spanish. 

"Ah, now you are taking me out of my depth, " said the doctor. "Do youspeak French?"

The man shook his head. 

"English, then?"

"_No comprende, senor_, " replied the man hurriedly--or what sounded likeit. 

"Never mind, then, " said the doctor. "I'll send your skipper somepowder to-morrow. "

The man shook his head and made signs, repeating them persistently, frowning and shaking his head. 

"I think he means, uncle, " cried Rodd, "that he won't go away until youhave paid him in powder for the fish. "

"Hang the fellow!" cried the doctor petulantly. "Why hasn't he beentaught English? I don't carry canisters of gunpowder about in mypockets. Can any one make him understand that the powder is in thelittle magazine on the schooner?"

"What does he want? Some gunpowder?" said the Count. 

"Yes. I promised him a present of a few pound canisters. "

"We can get at ours, " said the Count quietly, and giving an order to theFrench sailor who acted as his mate, the latter mounted into the brig, disappeared down the cabin hatchway, and returned in a few minutes withhalf-a-dozen canisters, with which the man smilingly departed, afterdistributing a few elaborate Spanish bows. 

The weather was glorious, and all that next day good steady progress wasmade with the brig repairs, while Rodd and his uncle spent most of thetime keeping guard over the workmen and sending crocodile aftercrocodile floating with the tide, to the great delight of the grinningcrew of the Spaniard, who lined the new-comer's bulwarks as if they werespectators of some exhibition, and clapped their hands and shouted loud_vivas_ at every successful shot, while all the time tiny little curlsof smoke rose at intervals into the sunny air as the men kept on makingfresh cigarettes as each stump was thrown with a _ciss_ into the glidingstream. 

"Quiet and lazy enough set, Pickle, " said the doctor. "How they canbask and sleep in the sunshine! It's an easy-going life, that oftheirs. Ah, there's the skipper! Fierce-looking fellow. He looks likea man who could use a knife. But you don't half read your Shakespeare, my boy. "

"What's Shakespeare got to do with that fierce-looking Spaniard usinghis knife, uncle?"

"Only this, my boy, " said the doctor, drawing the ramrod out of hisdouble gun and trying whether the wads were well down upon the bullets, for a couple of the ugly prominences that arched over a big crocodile'seyes came slowly gliding down the stream; "I mean that aShakespeare-reading boy clever at giving nicknames--and that you can dowhen you like--would have called that fellow Bottom the Weaver. "

"I don't see why, uncle. Bottom the Weaver?" said the boy musingly, ashe slowly raised his gun. 

"No, no; stop there, Rodd! That's my shot. I saw the brute first. "

"All right, uncle; only don't miss;" and the boy lowered his gun. "Butwho was Bottom the Weaver?"

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated the doctor. "I say, this is a big one, Rodd--a monster. "

"Here, I recollect, uncle. He was the man who was going to play lion. "

"Good boy, Pickle; not so ignorant as I thought you were. Well, didn'the say he'd roar him as gently as any sucking dove, so as not tofrighten the ladies?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"Well, didn't our knife-armed Spaniard roar to us as gently as--"

_Bang_. 

"Got him!" cried the doctor. 

"No, no; a miss, " cried Rodd. 

_Bang_, again. 

"That wasn't, " said the doctor, and as the smoke drifted away there wasa burst of _vivas_ again from the Spaniards as they saw their dangerousenemy writhing upon the surface with the contortions of an eel, as itturned and twined, and then lashed the water up into foam, till in aspasmodic effort it dived out of sight and was seen no more. 

"Poor fellow!" said Joe Cross from the brig, in the most sympathetic oftones. "Such a fine handsome one too, Mr Rodd, sir! Talk about asmile, when he put his head out of the water, why, a tiger couldn'ttouch it! It must have been three times as long. "

So the work went on, and the tyrants of the river perished slowly, butdid not seem to shrink in numbers. But the carpentering party were ableto do their work in safety, and when, after the interval for dinner hadended, Uncle Paul and his nephew carried on what Rodd called a reptilianexecution, the Spaniard's crew were lying about in the sunshine asleepupon their deck. They were too idle to take any interest in theshooting, while their captain, a rather marked object in the sunshinefrom the bright scarlet scarf about his waist, worn to keep up his snowywhite duck trousers, lay upon the top of the big three-masted schooner'sdeck-house with his face turned to the glowing sun, and with a cigarettealways in his mouth. 

"I believe he goes on smoking when he's asleep, uncle, " said Rodd. 

"Yes, Pickle, and if I were an artist and wanted to paint arepresentation of idleness, there's just the model I should select. They are a lazy lot. "

"Yes, uncle, and twice over to-day I saw them talking together, and Ifeel sure that they were laughing at our men because they worked. "

No communication whatever took place between the strangers and the firstoccupants of the anchorage till after dark, when, as Rodd was leaningover the taffrail talking to Joe Cross, who said he was cooling himselfdown after a hot day's work, the Spaniard's boat was dimly seen puttingoff from the big schooner, and was rowed across, to come close alongsideas Joe hailed her. 

The Spanish skipper looked up, cigarette in mouth, and nodded to Rodd. 

"You tell your ship-master, " he said, "that I have been thinking aboutthe birds and the spotted leopards and the big monkeys. I know a placewhere they swarm. Good-night!" And at a word his boat was thrust offagain and rowed back towards the gangway from which they came. 

"Well, let 'em swarm, " said Joe Cross, as if talking to himself. "Idon't mind. This 'ere's a savage country, and 'tis their nature to. Heseems a rum sort of a buffer, Mr Rodd, sir. What does he mean by that?Was it Spanish chaff?"

"Oh no, Joe. My uncle was asking him about what curiosities there arein the country. That's why he said he had been thinking about them. "

"Oh, I see. But how rum things is, and how easy a man can makemistakes! Now, if I had been asked my opinion I should have said thatthat there was a chap as couldn't think even in Spanish; sort of afellow as could eat, sleep and smoke, and then begin again, day afterday and year after year. This is a rum sort of a world, Mr Rodd, sir, and there's all sorts of people in it. Now look at that there skipper. He fancies hisself, he does, pretty creature! White trousers, cleanshirt every morning, and a red scarf round his waist. 'Andsome he callshisself, I suppose. He don't know that even a respectable dog as wentto drink in a river and saw hisself, like that there other dog in thefable, would go and drown hisself on the spot if he found he'd a greatset of brown teeth like his!"

"Ah, Joe, Spaniards are not like Englishmen. "

"Oh, but I don't call him a Spaniard, sir. I've seen Spaniards--regulargrand Dons, officers and gentlemen, with nothing the matter with them atall, only what they couldn't help, and that's being Spaniards instead ofEnglishmen. These are sort of mongrels. Some of this 'ere crew arewhat people call mollottoes. They are supposed to be painted white men, but payed over with a dirty tar-brush. Talk about a easy-going lot!Why, I aren't seen one of them do a stroke of work to-day. They are inthe ile trade, aren't they, sir? Palm-oil. "

"Yes, Joe; I suppose so. "

"Ah, that accounts for it, sir. Handling so much ile that it makes themgo so easy. "

The sailor burst into a long soft laugh, "What are you laughing at, Joe?"

"That warn't laughing, sir; that was smiling. When I laugh hearty youcan hear me a long way off. "

"Well, what were you smiling at?"

"I was thinking, sir, about how it would be if our old man had that lotunder him. My word, how he'd wake them up! Poor, simple, sleepybeggars! It would set them thinking that they hadn't took a skipperaboard, but a human hurricane. I wonder who owns that there craft, andwhether he gets anything out of the oil trade. _Viva_, indeed! Yes, our old man would give them something to _viva_ about. Their skippertoo--nice way of coming up a river to get a cargo. Well, I suppose theyget their tobacco pretty cheap; and that's how the world turns round. "

Another day glided by, with steady visible progress in the brig'srepairs; and the Count seemed in better spirits, and said a fewcomplimentary words to the skipper. 

On board the schooner Captain Chubb appeared to be setting an example tothe Spaniards, for those of his crew who were not helping the carpentersat the brig were kept busy holystoning, polishing, and coiling downropes into accurate concentric rings, till the _Maid of Salcombe_ was assmart as any yacht. 

Meanwhile the Spaniards lined the bulwarks of their vessel, smoked andyawned, and watched the reptile shooting, and then stared in sleepywonderment at the busy smartening up of the English schooner. 

The evening came, and this time the Spanish captain had himself rowedacross again, to find that it was the doctor who was leaning over theside with his nephew, and, cigarette in mouth still, the man saidslowly--

"He tell you about the birds and the monkeys up the little river?"

"Yes, " said the doctor, "and I've been thinking about it. "

"Ah, yes, " said the Spaniard. "I am going to stop a fortnight yetbefore it's time to go up with my cargo. I'll make my men row you up tothe mouth of that little river; and I could show you something you'dlike, but you would have to take your guns--you and him too. But maybethe boy would be afraid. "

"That I shouldn't!" cried Rodd hotly. 

"Oh! Then you could come, " said the Spaniard. "But you'd be in the wayif you were afraid. Think about it. Good-night. "

The doctor was ready to enter into conversation, and question him; butthe boat went off back at once, leaving Uncle Paul mentally troubled, for the idea of an excursion into the depths of the forest wilds wasexciting in the extreme. 

"He needn't have been in such a hurry, Pickle, " said the doctor. "Ishould have liked to have questioned him a little. "

"Yes, uncle. I should like to hear about such things; but it was likehis impudence to say that I should be afraid!"

"Yes, my boy; it was rude, " replied the doctor thoughtfully, "Ah! It'ssuch a chance as might never occur again. A guide like that isn'talways to be picked up. "

"No, uncle, " replied the boy; "and it must be very wonderful in thedepths of the forest, where you can get through, because you would beable to row. "

"Yes, my boy; wonderfully interesting, " said the doctor eagerly. 

"But we couldn't go, uncle. "

"Why, Pickle? Why?"

"Because we couldn't go away and leave the brig like that. "

"No; of course not, my boy. It would be too bad, wouldn't it? And ofcourse we couldn't go and trust ourselves to a pack of strangers, eh?"

"We shouldn't be afraid, should we, uncle?"

"Well, no, my boy; no. But I don't think it would be prudent. Butthere, there, we mustn't think of it. We can't do everything we like. "

CHAPTER FORTY. 

THE DOCTOR'S CHARGE. 

It was very tempting, and, like most lovers of natural history, thedeeper he plunged into his pursuit, with its wonders upon wonders, themore infatuated Uncle Paul grew. The nephew was quite as bad, though, boy-like, his was more the natural love of novelty than that of science. 

Who among you is there who has not revelled in the thought of somethingnew, the eager desire to see something fresh? The country boy to seevast London with all its greatness and littleness, its splendour and itssqualor, its many cares and too often false joys--the town boy to plungeinto that home of mystery and wonder, the country. And though as a rulethe country boy is disappointed, he of the town, when once he has tastedthe true joys of the country and seen Nature at her best, is neversatiated. But that love of the novel and the fresh is in us all--thedesire for that which in Saint Paul's days the men of Athens longed for:something new. 

Hence then it was no wonder that Rodd, as he paced the schooner's deckand looked across to either side of the river where the primeval forestcommenced, felt the strange longing to go and see, to hunt and find themyriads of fresh things upon which he had never set eyes before--wondersthat might be more than wonderful--dangers which would be exciting, possibly without danger; in short, all the boy's natural love ofadventure was stirring within him--that intense longing to cast awayculture in every shape and to become, if for ever so short a time, something of the natural savage once more; and he was ready to urge onhis uncle to go for just one expedition, only there was a sense of dutyto hold him back. 

And as the time went on, and the brig was rapidly approachingcompletion, Uncle Paul more than once angrily exclaimed to his nephew--

"Pickle, I wish that abominable Spaniard was on the other side of theworld!"

"So do I, uncle, " cried the boy. "We were getting on as nicely as couldbe, with plenty to interest us, and fresh adventures, and then he comeshere setting us longing to go off into the wilds. "

"Yes, my boy, and if it wasn't for the Count and the sense of duty wefeel towards him? we would be off to-morrow morning. "

"Well, why not go?" said a voice just behind them. 

Rodd and his uncle started round in astonishment, for they were both sointent upon their conversation, as they leaned over the rail talkingtogether, that they had not heard anybody approach, and for a momentthey were utterly speechless as they stood staring at the Count, who hadjust come on board, while Morny was climbing up the side to join him. 

"I--I didn't know you were here, " said the doctor confusedly. 

"Why, you asked me to come on board and dine and spend the evening withyou, " replied the Count good-humouredly. "Had you forgotten?"

"Well--well, " said the doctor, "I--Really, I'm afraid I had. What--whathave you been about?" he continued, turning angrily upon Rodd. "It's astrange thing, Rodney, that when you know of some engagement that I havemade, and it slips my memory, you never remind me of it. "

"Well, uncle--I--"

"Well, uncle--you! I remember now well enough. You were there thismorning when I asked the Count and--Ah, Morny, my lad! How are you?Glad you have come. --But, as I was saying, what were you thinkingabout?"

"Expedition into the forest, uncle, " said the boy frankly. 

"Expedition into the forest, sir! Um--ah! Well. --Yes, I'm afraid I wasthinking about it too. I am so sorry, Des Saix. But welcome all thesame, if you will forgive me. "

"Forgive you, yes!" said the Count warmly. "That and a great deal more. But I am very glad that you have so strangely led up to the subjectupon which I wish to talk to you. "

"What, my forgetfulness?"

"No, no! That expedition into the forest. "

"No, no; don't talk about it. I have thought about it too much, and itworries me. "

"Well, I want to put a stop to its worrying you. Morny here has beentelling me how anxious you both are to go. "

"Morny! Why, what did he know about it? He couldn't tell. Here, you, Rodney, have you been letting your tongue run, sir, exposing all myweaknesses?"

"No, sir, that he has not, " replied the French lad eagerly; "but I havegathered from your remarks, and words that Rodd has more than once letdrop, how anxious you both are to have a run up country and seesomething of what the wilds are like. "

"Oh, fudge! Stuff! Nonsense!" cried the doctor petulantly. "That'squite out of the question. "

"Why?" said the Count. 

"Why?" cried the doctor. "Oh, because it's--that is--er--I feel--"

"Bound by a sense of imaginary duty, " said the Count, smiling. "Youthink it would be unfriendly to me and my son here to leave us in whatyou English people call the lurch; and therefore you are deprivingyourself of what would be a great pleasure as naturalists and hunters inwhich you would indulge if we were not here. "

"My dear Des Saix, I do wish you would not talk about it, " cried thedoctor. "There, I confess that if we were alone I should probably takeadvantage of the Spanish captain's knowledge of the country, and go alittle way up with him; but as matters are, with your brig stillunfinished, and so much to do, I consider it would be an act ofdisgraceful selfishness to go away and leave you alone here. "

"Absurd!" said the Count. "You would be going into wilder parts whilewe should be quite at home here, in the nearly finished brig, and haveher in the best of trim by the time you came back. "

"Impossible!" snapped out the doctor. "Nothing of the sort. "

"What do you say, Morny?" continued the Count. "You feel that they areboth eager to go?"

"Yes, father; and I am sure that Rodd is burning with desire. "

"You don't know anything about it, " cried Rodd. 

"Well, " said the Count, "ever since we met I have given way, and takenyour advice, doctor, in all things; but we have come to a time now whenI think I have a right to assert myself. Captain Chubb thinks that hewill have finished in two days more. He is certain that he will haveall done, caulked, tarred, and the copper replaced, in three days; so Ihave come to the conclusion that you people, who have been quite slavesin the way of sharing my troubles, thoroughly deserve a holiday. So Iset you free--you too, Morny. "

"Me, father!" cried the lad in astonishment. 

"Yes; I am sure you would enjoy a trip with Rodd as much as he wouldlike you to go with him. "

"Yes, that I should, " cried Rodd; "but--"

"Yes, " said Morny gravely; "but--you would not wish me to leave myfather like this. Thank you, my father. I could not go, and I willstay. "

"No, Morny; you will obey my wishes. You have your young life saddenedenough with disappointments, so that when there is an opportunity tokeep one away I call upon you to accompany young Harding here as hiscompanion, and I wish you both a very enjoyable trip. "

"That's very nice of you--very nice indeed, " cried the doctor; "but Icannot sanction it. I think we should be doing very wrong if we letthose boys go alone. "

"But they would not go alone. You would have full charge of yournephew. "

"Now, Des Saix!" snorted the doctor. 

"Let me finish, " said the Count good-humouredly; "and as a man in whom Iplace full confidence I entrust you with the care of my son. Now, doctor, please, no more excuses. I will not deprive you of thepleasures a naturalist would enjoy in such an excursion. Yourpreparations could be soon made; so send over for the Spaniard to-nightand tell him you will be ready to start at the turn of the tideto-morrow, so that it may bear you up into these unknown regions--unknown to us--and a pleasant trip to you!"

"No, " said the doctor, "I shall certainly not think of trustingourselves to that man and his crew. "

"There I agree with you, " said the Count; "with a good crew of your owntrusted men. "

"And if he could be spared, " cried Rodd, "I should like for us to haveJoe Cross. "

"Now, look here, " cried Uncle Paul, "this is taking a weak man at hisweakest time. Really, Count, we ought not to go. Look at what yourposition would be in case anything should happen. "

"Nothing is likely to happen, " said the Count, "and if it did, though mybrig is still helpless I should have your vessel, with about half yourcrew, and my own. So now not another word. "

"There, " said the doctor, "I am afraid I am beaten. "

CHAPTER FORTY ONE. 

REPTILIAN. 

It was just about the same time as the Spaniard had chosen for his othervisits, after dark, that his boat was again rowed across to theschooner's anchorage, the man asking for the doctor. 

"I'm here, " said Uncle Paul, going to the side, from where he had beentalking to the Count. "What's the matter?"

"Matter?" said the Spaniard wonderingly. "Oh, there's nothing thematter. I thought I'd tell you that those two men of mine you gave thephysic to are quite well again, and don't want any more. That's all. Go on shooting the crocodiles. Good-night!"

He gave an order to his men, and the boat's head was turned, but as soonas they had proceeded a little way back the Spaniard gave another order, and his men checked the boat and kept on gently dipping their oars tokeep her in the same place. "Doctor there?" shouted the Spaniard. "Yes. "

"Haven't thought any more about going up the river, have you?"

There was dead silence for a few moments, and then Uncle Paul saidsharply, as if making an effort--

"Yes; I shall start as soon as the tide turns to-morrow morning. "

"Very well, " said the man carelessly. "I will come across with mylong-boat and eight of my men. They want a job to keep them awake. "

Then he grumbled out some words in Spanish to those who were with him, while, as if annoyed at what he had heard, Captain Chubb uttered a lowgrowl. 

"No, you needn't do that, " cried Uncle Paul. "Our men would like to goup the river. If you will come across to act as guide I will use my ownboat, and take all provisions that are necessary. "

"Very well, " said the Spaniard. "Perhaps that will be best. Yourboat's lighter than mine. Take plenty of powder and shot. Like some ofmy men to come and help?"

"Oh no; it will not be necessary, " replied the captain. 

"Bring blankets, " shouted the Spaniard. "Dew's heavy. Good-night!"Then the boat was rowed away. 

"You mean to go?" grunted the skipper. 

"Yes; I don't like to lose this opportunity, and our friends here wouldlike us to go. "

"Well, " grunted the skipper, after a few moments' thought, "he's onlyone, and you'll be how many?"

"I was taking eight of the men to row; that is to say, four rowers, andtheir relief; Cross for coxswain--nine; and our three selves. "

"Nay, I'm not going till that brig's finished, " said the skipperangrily. 

"I felt assured of that, " said the doctor. "The young Count is going tojoin us. "

"Ah, that's better, " said the skipper. "But look here, gentlemen, Ionly look upon myself as a servant. "

"Not as mine, " said the Count gravely. "I shall always look upon you, Captain Chubb, as one of my most valued friends. "

"And I am sure Captain Chubb knows that I do, " said the doctor, "andthat I have ever since he set me down as a scoundrelly slaver. "

"Oh, don't bring that up again, sir, " grunted the skipper. "That was ablunder, and every man makes them. Well, that's very nice of you, gentlemen--very nice indeed; and I was going to speak out a bitnervously, --as I consider it to be my duty to do as Dr Robson'sservant; but as you both speak of me as you do, I hope you won't beoffended when I say outright that I don't like that Spanish chap atall. "

"Well, I don't know that I particularly like him, " said the doctor; "buthe will be very useful to me, and show me what I want. I shall pay himfor his services, and there'll be an end of it. "

"Yes, gentlemen, that's right enough, but I wouldn't trust him a bit. The doctor will say that it is British prejudice. Perhaps it is; buthere's my crew; there isn't a man among them as I'd say was perfect, butsame time I'd lie down and go to sleep quite comfortable and feelingsafe, if I knew any one of them was on the watch; and it did me goodwhen I heerd you say, sir, that you wouldn't have any of the mongrelcrew. If it had been the other way on, and you'd said you were going totake Mr Rodd and the young French gentleman and trust yourselves up thecountry in their boat, I'll tell you outright, sir, I should have struckagainst it, and if you'd held out and rode the high horse as master, why, there'd have been a mutiny. The men would have took my side, andwe wouldn't have let you go. "

"And quite right too, Chubb, " said the doctor, clapping him on theshoulder. "It would have been a good proof that I had done wisely inmaking you my friend. What do you say, Count?"

"Quite right, " was the reply. "Well, captain, " continued the Count, "Idon't see that the party can come to much harm with nine of your stoutmen to act as bodyguard, if this Spanish captain is used as a guide. "

"No, sir, I don't see as they can; and as the doctor's come out onpurpose to collect all kinds of curious things and see some of thewonders of the world, I suppose it is right that he should make use of achance like this. But I wouldn't trust that man, gentlemen, fartherthan I could see him, and that's what, with your leave, I am going tosay to my lads. I am just going to tell 'em that they have got to bringthe three gentlemen back safe and sound, even if it means that some ofthem is going to lose the number of their mess, and that means this too, that if Mr Spanish skipper don't play his game fair--well then--"

The skipper ceased speaking, and screwed up his lips very tightly justin the light shed by the swinging lantern. 

"Well, captain, " put in Rodd, who felt rather amused at what he calledthe fuss the skipper was making, "why don't you finish what you weregoing to say?"

"Because I didn't think it was needed, my lad, " was the reply. "What Imeant was, that if the doctor here didn't think it was his duty to givethat yellow chap a very strong dose, one of my lads would. "

The doctor was in as high glee the next morning as the two lads, and, itmight be added with justice, the nine sailors who were to form theircrew, for to a man they were bubbling over with excitement and delight. 

The moment they had heard that they were to go they began making theirpreparations; all their weapons were already in a perfect state ofcleanliness, and shone as much as hands could make them, but everypistol and gun-lock was carefully re-oiled, every flint taken out andtightly replaced, while the blades of their cutlasses, that literallyglittered, had a final touch given to them and the edges passed alongthe grindstone, which was sent spinning round in the little armoury ashard as it could go. 

The skipper himself spent half the night with the steward, packingprovisions, Joe Cross helping, for though he was to be coxswain of theboat, he said he came in there, for after the cook he held that he knewmore about cooking "wittles" than any fellow in the ship, and this wasacknowledged without dissent, though one of the men did say that JoeCross took more than his share, since in addition to other duties he hadthe canisters of gunpowder in charge. 

The morning was glorious, the sun and the early breeze soon chasing awaythe river mist, and before the tide had turned, everything was ready, the well-stored boat alongside, and an awning rigged up over theafter-part big enough not merely to act as a screen for the gentlemen, but to shade those who were not rowing, while they were having theirrest, while by a little addition the boat's sail could be spread overthe little unshipped mast and used as a covering from the night dewswhen the boat was moored somewhere to the bank after the day's work wasdone. 

"There, gentlemen, " said the skipper, "I think that's about as near aswe can get it; but I don't see no sign of your Spanish guide as yet. Itseems to me as if every one yonder is asleep. Here, you, Joe Cross, Iknowed there'd be something. You've forgotten that screwdriver and thelittle bottle of oil. "

"That I aren't, sir! They're in the fore-locker in the little bag oftools. "

"Good, " grunted the skipper; "and I suppose you'll help the doctor andyoung Mr Rodd skin the birds they shoot?"

"That's right, sir, and Mr Rodd's been laying down the law to me totake care and keep that there soapy stuff covered over as he dresses theinside of the skins with, 'cause he says it's pison. "

The skipper grunted again as he stood at the side and scowled down intothe boat. 

"Spun yarn?" he said sharply. 

"Plenty, sir. "

"But you lads never thought to give your jack-knives a whet, I'll bebound. "

Joe Cross turned to the crew. 

"Show knives, lads!" he shouted. "The skipper wants to try them all onhis beard. "

"Steady!" growled the skipper. "That's right, then. Well, Mr Rodd, "he continued, "I suppose everything's all right. No; where's that thereextra coil of new signal line?"

"Starn locker, sir, " said Joe. 

"And an extra line with new grapnel?"

"Fore-locker, sir, " said Joe. 

The captain grunted. 

"Here, get the grapnel out of the jolly-boat and lash it under one ofthe thwarts. You might lose one again. "

"There it is, sir, " said Joe--"lashed just amidships out of the way. "

"Come, come, captain, " said the doctor good-humouredly as he took offhis straw hat and wiped his moist brow, for he too had been as busy asthe rest, "you have had your innings; I want to have mine. You, Rodney, you never thought to see that the quinine bottle in the little leathermedicine chest was re-filled. "

"Rammed it in tight, uncle, " said the boy triumphantly, "and saw to allthe other bottles. "

"Then, " said the doctor, "we'll say all is ready. Only look here, mylads; I'll give you half-an-hour before we start, so you had better godown below and have some more breakfast, for it will be a good manyhours before we have another meal. "

No one stirred. 

"Well, " said the doctor impatiently, "did you hear what I said?"

This time a low murmur ran through the crew, and Joe Cross took a stepforward and touched his hat. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " he said; "the lads' respects, and they says they'reall tight, cargo well stowed. "

"Then you don't want the extra half-hour?" said the doctor, looking athis watch. "So there's nothing to do, then, my dear Count, and you, Captain Chubb, but for us to shake hands and say good-bye. "

"Where's your guide?" grunted the captain. 

"Ah, where's our guide?" said the doctor, looking in the direction ofthe Spanish three-master. "He said at the turn of the tide. I ought tohave asked him to come here to breakfast. "

"Here he comes, uncle, " cried Rodd, for at that moment the head of theSpaniard's boat was rowed out from the other side of the anchoredvessel, which might have been quite deserted, for not a head was to beseen. 

"Hah!" cried the doctor. "I like that. It tells well for his being atrustworthy guide. So now good-bye, Count. Your son's mine till wecome back. "

The Count mastered his desire to embrace the doctor, and grasped hishand in regular English fashion, and by the time the Spaniard's littlegig, rowed by two men, had come alongside, the last farewell had takenplace with the captain, who then looked over the rail and grunted out--

"Coming aboard, senor?"

"No, no; but just one word. I have been talking to my crew, and toldthem they are to take their orders from you till I come back. Theywon't give you any trouble. Let them smoke and sleep as much as theylike. "

"All right, " growled the skipper. "When shall we see you back?"

"When your senor likes, " said the Spaniard, lighting a fresh cigarettefrom the one which had threatened to burn his moustache. "I take theboat as far up into the forest along the little rivers till he tells meto turn back, and then we will begin to row or sail the other way. "

A few minutes later the French crew of the brig, and the men of theschooner who were to stay and help the carpenter and his mate, stoodready to give a farewell cheer. The travellers were on the boat, therowers in their places, with their oars held upright ready to drop intothe rowlocks, the little sail rolled round the mast was lying ready foruse if a breeze sprang up, and Joe Cross stood right forward, boat-hookin hand, looking as smart as the rest of the crew, that is to say, justas if they had stepped off a man-of-war's deck, and then every onewell-armed, ready for the attack upon any wild creatures theyencountered, or for the defence of their lives against an enemy, waitedfor the skipper to give the signal to start, which he did at last byraising his hand. 

Then, as the boat was pushed off into the now rising tide, a mingledFrench and English cheer arose, full of good wishes, while of theSpaniard's crew not a man was visible save the two in the captain'sboat, who had just reached the three-master's stern and had begun tomake fast. 

The cheer was repeated as the Devon boat, in obedience to the dipping ofthe oars, glided farther out into mid-stream, while directly after therewas a heavy swirl just beneath her bows, followed by the suddenprotrusion of the huge grinning head of a fierce crocodile, the monsterbent on mischief, and receiving a most unexpected salute, for Joe Crosswas standing balancing his boat-hook in his hands, ready to lay it downalong the thwart, but, quick almost as lightning, he gave it a twirl ashe rested one foot upon the gunwale and drove it, harpoon fashion, crashinto the reptile's head. 

"He's got it!" cried the man, as he started back; but he did not escapethe shower of water that was sent flying over the boat, the crocodilevigorously lashing the surface with its serrated tail as it floatedastern. 

"Yes, " said the Spanish captain quietly, "but you had better shoot them, _senores_, and keep a little back from the side. There's plenty of themup the river, and one of you might get swept out of the boat. "

CHAPTER FORTY TWO. 

NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE. 

In spite of the risks run from the ravenous reptiles, whose daringproved that they had a hard struggle for existence, familiarity soonbred contempt, and the sailors laughed, as they proceeded up thebeautiful river, at perils which not many days before would have madethem turn pale. 

For they were enjoying an excursion that seemed to present freshbeauties at every yard. As a rule the forest came down to the flowingwater on both sides in waves of verdure, with grand trees which everynow and then presented the aspect of some gorgeous flower garden, herered, there blue, at other times in lovely wreaths of white, while itseemed, Joe Cross said to the lads, as if one of the blossoming treestook flight every now and then and came skimming over the boat, fillingthe sky with flowers, so beautiful were the flocks of parrots and otherbirds that, apparently attracted by the strangers, flew screaming andwhistling overhead. 

There was no question about getting a shot at some beautiful green andorange long-tailed paroquet, or at one of the soft grey scarlet-tailedparrots which, as they flew across the river, shrieking at those who hadinterrupted their solitude, gave place to others of a delicate pink; butupon seeing Rodd raise his gun, the Spaniard laughed and said--

"Never mind them. I could fill my schooner with those things at anytime. You wait till we get up into the little side river. There willbe something better worth shooting then; or perhaps you would like tokill a few as you are coming back. "

"Yes, Rodd, " said the doctor; "that would be wiser, my lad. "

"But suppose we don't see them as we come back, " said the lad. 

"Not see them?" said the Spaniard, laughing. "Why, the country's alivewith them!"

Then as the party sated their eyes upon the various objects they passed, a light soft breeze arose when they turned into a bend of the river, andthe Spaniard expressed his satisfaction, and suggested that the sailshould be hoisted. 

This was rapidly done, the oars were laid in, and Joe Cross came aft topreside at the newly-shipped rudder, while all through the rest of theday, and after the tide had run its course and become adverse, theytacked from side to side, or glided onward with the wind astern, the menonly having at very rare intervals to take to their oars. 

It was soon after mid-day that the doctor proposed that the boat shouldbe run ashore and that they should land to dine at a lovely park-likeopening where the dense portion of the forest had receded farther fromthe bank; but the Spaniard shook his head. 

"No, " he said, "don't do that. It looks very nice, but it isn't safe. There are the crocodiles basking about the bank, snakes and serpentsnearly everywhere, and the leopards and other great cats hanging aboutamong the trees. Keep aboard. It's safer here. "

"He means to take care of us, Morny, " said Rodd, in French, and directlyafter he gave his companion a meaning look, for the Spanish skipperturned to the doctor and said--

"Tell your men to have their guns handy. "

"What for?" said the doctor. "Do you scent danger?"

"Nothing particular, " replied the man, "but up here in these parts younever know what may happen next. Something may come just when you thinkyou are safe, and it's best to be always ready. "

So that and the following meal were eaten in the boat, which just beforedark was at the Spaniard's suggestion run up into a calm reach where theforest had become very distant, while the river seemed to have widenedout to double its former size. 

Here he proposed that they should anchor for the night and wait for themorning before continuing their journey. 

This was disappointing to the lads, who looked longingly at the shore, while Rodd suggested that there were several places that looked level, and where it would be easy to rig up a tent where they might sleep. 

The Spaniard laughed, and with a grim smile said--

"You wanted a guide for coming up here, young man. If we did what yousay we shouldn't all be ready to go on again in the morning. "

"What, because of the wild beasts?" said Rodd eagerly. 

The Spaniard nodded. 

"He is quite right, Rodd, " said the doctor. "And I suppose we mightcatch fever here?" he continued. 

"Bad, " said the Spaniard laconically. "Keep to the boat. "

The night came down dark and beautiful; the great purple velvet archthat spread from side to side of the river was gloriously spangled withstars, for in the day's ascent the little party seemed to have left theriver mists behind, and as they sat together the doctor and his youngcompanions revelled in the loveliness of the scene, while they listenedto the strange sounds from forest and river which constantly smote upontheir ears and now seemed wondrously near. 

"It seems very different, " whispered Rodd to Morny, for something preyedupon his spirits and stayed him from speaking aloud. 

"Yes, " said Morny, in the same subdued tone; "it is very different frombeing aboard the vessels. I shan't go to sleep to-night; shall you?"

"No. Who could go to sleep? Why, as soon as one lay down I shouldexpect to see the great slimy snout of a crocodile thrust over theboat's gunwale, and then--"

"I say, " said Morny, "don't!"

But nothing worse than sounds troubled the party that night, as not longafter this conversation the two lads obeyed the doctor's suggestion thatthey should creep under the awning, whose canvas sides were tightlybelayed to the gunwale; and though both declared that they would neverclose their eyes, they and the watches into which the little crew wasdivided followed the Spanish skipper's example, and in turn sleptheavily till sunrise, the great orange globe slowly rolling up over theedge of the forest and shining brilliantly down upon the glitteringriver, for as over-night there was not a sign of mist. 

About half the day passed with plenty of favouring gales to help theboat along, and spare the men's arms, and Rodd commented on this totheir guide. 

"Wait a bit, " he said. "A little farther on, and we shall turn into oneof the little rivers where the high trees are close together at thesides. There won't be much wind there, and the men will have to row. "

Everything was as he said, for as they passed out of the main stream thebanks were but a little way apart, and in place of the full flow of thegreat river the stream grew sluggish; but everything being so close athand the beauties of the forest became far enhanced. 

"You said rivers, " said the doctor suddenly. "Are there more than thisone?"

"Plenty, " replied the man, and he made himself a fresh cigarette as hesat back in the boat, to go on smoking. "Not so many crocodiles here, "he said, "and they are smaller. More birds too. Look!" And as the mendipped their oars to row slowly up the winding stream, which oftenseemed to turn back upon itself, the Spaniard pointed now to tinybee-like sunbirds with their dazzling metallic casques and gorgets--thebrilliant little creatures that take the place of the humming-birds ofthe New World. 

At another time, though the two lads, eagerly observant and with thedoctor to back them, needed no showing, their guide pointed to the manybrilliantly-tinted birds of the thrush family, at the barbets andtrogons, not so brilliant as those of the Western world, but each lovelyin itself, while as they went on and on along their meandering riverpath, the birds that struck them as being most novel and at the sametime tame in the way in which they came down the overhanging branches ofthe great forest trees, as if their curiosity had been excited by thestrangers, were the many-tinted plantain eaters, with their crestedheads, and the lovely green and crimson touracoos, which, while theirviolet and crimson relatives wore, as it were, a feather casque, displayed on their part a vivid green ornamentation that passed frombeak to nape, which when they were excited looked more like a plume. 

They had come thus far without firing a shot, for the doctor had said--

"Let us leave the shooting till our return, and be contented withcharging our memories and feasting our eyes, for no dried skins, howevercarefully they are preserved, will ever display the beauties of thesebirds' nature as we watch them here in life. But we must have a skin ortwo of these touracoos, for I want to show you lads the wonders of thatvivid crimson upon their underparts. "

"Oh, I can see it plainly enough, uncle, " said Rodd. 

"Yes, " said Uncle Paul, "but you don't notice what I mean. Instead ofthat crimson being a beautiful dye fixed in the feathers, it is a softred pigment which can be washed out into water and--I saw somethingmoving up that creek, " he added, in a low voice. 

"Niggers perhaps, " said the Spaniard, without turning his head. 

"Likely to attack?" asked Rodd. 

"Pish!" said the Spaniard contemptuously. "Harmless. Fishing perhaps. We shall see more, I expect, farther on. "

He did not trouble himself to turn his head, though the rest in the boatkept a sharp look-out for what had attracted the doctor's attention up anarrow inlet arched over by the overhanging trees, but it was not untilclose upon evening that, as they pursued their winding way, this sidestream opened out more into a reach, and then for the first time amovement some hundreds of yards behind brought forth a warning from JoeCross, who was seated with the tiller in his hand. 

"Just cast your eye back, Mr Rodd, sir, " he said; "yonder there wherethe stream opened out it seems to me there's a canoe with a couple ofIndians in it. Nay, I mean blacks. "

"Yes; look, captain, " said Rodd eagerly; and the Spaniard slowly raisedhimself up from where he was leaning back, took his cigarette from hislips, shaded his eyes, and then after a cursory glance replaced thecigarette and sank back. 

"Niggers, " he said. "Fishing. "

Then they rowed on, leaving the two occupants of the canoe behind, till, coming to what he considered to be a suitable place, the Spaniardsuggested that they should stay there for their meal upon an open sandylittle beach some fifty yards across, beyond which the forest rose darkand thick again. 

"We can land and light a fire, " he said, "and make coffee and stretchour legs. "

"It would not be safe, " said the doctor, "to rig up a tent here, wouldit?"

"Oh yes, " said the captain. "The only thing to trouble us here might bea leopard or two; but a shot would scare them away. "

This was good news, and heartily welcomed by the whole party, and in ashort time cooking was going on in the glowing embers of a fire, forwhich there was abundant fuel close at hand, while a canvas tent, strengthened by branches thrust deep in the sand, was cleverly contrivedby the sailors. 

"I say, Morny, this is something like!" cried Rodd, as they sat togetherwatching the men finishing their meal, with their jovial contented faceslit up by the glowing fire which flashed and cast shadows and sent upgolden clouds dotted with tiny spark-like embers, as it was made up fromtime to time, according to the Spanish captain's suggestion that itwould keep away all wild beasts and clear off the snakes. 

"Yes; my legs were beginning to feel cramped. I wonder how my fatheris. "

"Oh, he's happy enough, " said Rodd, "and enjoying himself with thethought that Skipper Chubb has had a good day's work getting on a newouter skin over the hole. "

"Ah, yes, I hope so, " cried Morny eagerly, his friend's suggestionseeming to brighten him up. 

"And I say, " cried Rodd, "shan't we sleep to-night! How I shallstretch! I don't think I should much mind a great spotted cat comingand sniffing round the tent. Of course it would be very horrid to beclawed or bitten, but there's something natural about that. The idea ofbeing grabbed by one of those great slimy reptiles and dragged underwater, and before you have had time to squeak--"

"Rodd, don't, please!" cried Morny, with a shudder. "It makes my fleshcreep. "

"Yes; I was going to say it's time you lads changed your conversation, "said the doctor quietly, "for none of the forest creatures are likely todisturb us to-night with a watch-fire kept up like this. "

"But I say, uncle, " said Rodd mischievously, later on--when the watchhad been set, with a big pile of dead firewood laid ready to replenishthe fire, and Uncle Paul was about to follow the example of the Spanishcaptain and select his patch of dry sand covered with canvas, beneaththe extemporised tent. 

"Well, what, my boy?" said the doctor drowsily. "Don't talk now. I amsure every one wants to go to sleep. "

"Yes, uncle; I am sure I do, " said the boy, who was already fitting theprojecting bones of his back into the yielding sand; "but do you thinkit's likely--"

Rodd stopped to give Morny, who was beside him, a nudge with his elbow. 

"Do I think what's likely, Pickle?" replied the doctor. 

"That those two black fellows we saw in the canoe will sneak ashore tocome and do anything to us with their spears?"

"Rodney!" cried the doctor indignantly. 

"But they are sure to have spears, uncle, or else they couldn't besticking the fish. "

"Go to sleep, sir!" said the doctor angrily. 

Rodd went at once, and did not stir again, till an extra loud cracklingof burning wood made him start up in wonder and alarm. 

But it was only the morning watch, in the persons of Joe Cross and theappointed cook, making up the fire afresh in view of what Joe calledboiling the billy and to give the cook some good broiling embers, for itwas the break of day once more. 

CHAPTER FORTY THREE. 

THE STRANGERS. 

Rodd's toilet did not take him long, for though the water was clear andtempting as it rippled on the sand, the recollection of what mightpossibly be there in the way of ravenous fish, if even there were noreptiles, kept him from venturing for a swim, while when he suggested tothe Spaniard the possibility of bathing in safety, the man looked at himin surprise, and his words were tinged with contempt as he said--

"Bathe! What for?"

Rodd did not answer, but turned his back quickly and hurried away towhere Morny was questioning Joe Cross and the cook about whether the menthey had succeeded in the watch had heard anything in the night. 

"Here, catch hold of me, you two, " Rodd gasped out, "and help me awaythere among the trees. "

"Hah! What's the matter?" cried Morny. "Are you taken bad?"

"Horrid. Don't talk to me. Get me out of sight. I am going off. "

Morny and Joe each caught him by an arm and hurried him in amongst thetrees. 

"Don't be frightened, " gasped out Rodd. "Oh, that Spanish chap! He'llbe the death of me!"

"Why, you are laughing!" cried Morny angrily. "How dare you frighten uslike this!"

"I--I--I--I--" gasped out Rodd--"couldn't help it, old fellow. Oh, thatSpaniard!"

Morny was really angry, but Joe Cross's frank face had expanded into agrim smile. 

"What game's he been up to, Mr Rodd, sir?"

"Oh, it was very stupid of me, " said Rodd, wiping his eyes; "but I wasafraid of laughing in his face, and the more I tried to look serious themore it would come; and I didn't want to offend him. "

"Just like 'em, sir, " said Joe, as Rodd explained himself more fully. "'Tis their natur' to; and besides, it's what an old woman I used toknow called being codimical. Yes, sir, I've watched 'em aboard thatthere three-masted schooner. Them there mongrel chaps, they must save awonderful lot of money every year in soap. "

"There, " said Rodd, wiping his eyes again, "I am all right now; but it'svery comic. The more you feel you mustn't laugh, the worse you are. Isuppose laughing must do one good. I always feel so much better afterhaving a good grin. "

"Do you good, Mr Rodd, sir! I should just think it does! Why, it'snatur'. Does you good to have a long talk sometimes, don't it; eh, MrMorny, sir?"

"Oh yes, I suppose so, " replied the lad. 

"And you know it does you a lot of good to get your teeth to work whenyou are hungry, Mr Rodd. "

"Yes, Joe, " cried the lad eagerly. "What's for breakfast?"

"Ah, you wait a bit, sir, and you will see. But as I was saying aboutlaughing, what's your smiling tackle for, and your grinning kit for, ifthey aren't to use and set you right when otherwise you would be all inthe dumps? Yes, sir; give me a good laugh. But one don't always getone's share along with our old man. Still we like him, for he alwaysmeans right by us. Ay, there's worse chaps in the world than old Chubb, and I'm just ready and waiting to drink his health and long life to himin a pannikin of the finest coffee a coxswain ever brewed; and as forthe frizzled ham that cookie's got thriddled on sticks over them embersto eat with the dough-cakes he's baking in the ashes--Here, let's getback, for fear there's an accident. "

"Accident?" said Morny. "Why, what accident could happen?"

"Out of sight, sir, out of mind; and that aren't a French proverb, butyou might like to turn it into one as your countrymen could use. Theymight forget, sir, as we are here. "

Well rested, in high spirits, and with a good breakfast waiting, themorning meal was eaten with the greatest of gusto, while to every onethe expedition wore more and more the appearance of a delightfulholiday. 

There was an exception, though, and that was in the person of theSpanish captain, who looked grim and sombre, and ate little, but smokeda great deal. 

Just as the tent was being struck and a clearance being made of theremains of the breakfast, Rodd suddenly called out--

"There they are again!" And he called attention to the two nearly nudeblacks, who were creeping along the edge of the bank opposite to them intheir canoe. 

"Why, they are watching us, " said Uncle Paul. 

"Hungry, " said the Spanish skipper laconically. 

"Yes, that's it, " cried Rodd, and after a glance at his uncle he toredown a wild banana leaf, turned it into a natural green dish, heapedupon it some of the remains of the breakfast, and carried it a shortdistance along the bank, where he placed it close to the water's edge, signed to the blacks, and then joined his companions, who were about toenter the boat. 

Very soon afterwards they were gliding along the stream again, after thesailors, by Uncle Paul's orders, had carefully extinguished the remainsof the fire. 

"We don't want to start a conflagration, my boys, " he said. 

As the men slowly dipped their oars, for there was not a breath of wind, the two lads had to make an effort to, as it were, drag their eyes fromthe lovely floral scene on either side of the little river, while theywatched the proceedings of the blacks. 

"Well, they are a pair of stupids, " said Rodd. "What is it--ignoranceor suspicion?"

For the two dark objects remained on the farther bank, one seated with apaddle, the other upright, spear in hand, holding on by an overhangingbough to keep their boat from drifting on with the current. 

"Suspicion, " said Morny quietly. 

"Miserable wretches! Do they think I want to poison them?"

"No. I'll tell you, " said Morny. "Poor creatures, they have been soill-used by the white people with black hearts who come to these shoresthat they think the food you have put there is the bait of a trap. "

"To catch blackbirds! Why, of course! They think we want to carry themoff for slaves. They're as bad as old Captain Chubb; eh, uncle? Hetook us for slavers, Morny, when uncle wanted to engage him. Well, Iforgive them, poor chaps. --Ah, they think it's safe now. They're goingto risk taking the bait. "

For all at once the two negroes began to paddle themselves slowly acrossthe river to where the bright green banana leaf lay glistening upon thesand, and the last the two lads saw then of those they had tried tobenefit, as the boat glided on with four oars dipping and making thewater flash like silver, was with the canoe drawn up on to the sands, the two savage-looking blacks squatting on their heels, eagerlydevouring the remains of the breakfast. "Oh, never mind the sun beinghot, uncle, " cried Rodd, as they went on and on. "I don't mind if I'mhalf roasted. Look, Morny; did you ever see anything so lovely? Lookat the flowers on that great tree. Why, it seems to blaze withscarlet. "

"Yes, and look at the birds, " was the reply. "I wish my father werehere, with his mind at rest, to enjoy all this as I do, or should if hewere with us. There, quick! What's that--running in there among theleaves on that tree?"

"Snake, " cried Rodd, who just caught sight of the movement. "No. Whoever saw a snake with four legs? Why, it's a great lizard of a thing!Why, uncle, that must be one of those queer chaps that turn all sorts ofcolours. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, "you are right, Pickle, " and he focussed upon ita little old-fashioned single opera-glass which he carried in hispocket. "That's a chameleon, sure enough; and a big one too, I shouldsay, though it's the first one I ever saw alive. "

"What's he after?" said Rodd. 

"Having a game, catching butterflies, I think, sir, " suggested JoeCross. "So he is, Joe. "

"Why, Master Rodd, it makes us chaps wish we was boys again and ashorethere running after them butterflies with our caps; only one couldn'trun among the trees, and they fly too high. I never see flutterbies, aswe used to call them, with colours like these, though. We used to catchwhite 'uns, and yaller ones, and sometimes what we used to calltortoiseshells. But I call all this 'ere--Look there, sir; there's oneas big as my hand--two--lots on 'em! Yes, I do call this 'ere deadwaste both of the butterflies and the birds. "

"Why, my man?" said the doctor quietly. 

"Why, sir, everything you see flying about in the air is as lovely aslovely, and no one to look at them. Why, if I had my way I'd have allthese sort of things flying about in old England. Yes, sir, they areall wasted here. "

"That they aren't, Joe, " cried Rodd. "We are looking at them, andenjoying them; and I say, uncle, isn't it time we began to get somespecimens?"

"Plenty of time yet, my boy. Why, captain, the country here on eitherside is very beautiful. "

"Satisfied, then?" said the Spaniard coolly. 

"Thoroughly, " replied the doctor, "and very glad to have met with such aguide. "

"But I say, captain, " cried Rodd, "don't forget the big monkeys and theleopards. "

"Oh no, " said the Spaniard. "Farther on yet; and I can't be sure. There are plenty in the woods one day, and the next they are gone. Butwe shall come across some of them. " And he sank back smoking again. 

"Just look at him, " said Rodd. "He doesn't seem to take notice ofanything. "

"These things have grown common to him, " replied Morny quietly; "butdon't look only at the trees on the banks. Cast your eyes downsometimes into the clear water. "

"Don't say there are any of those great reptiles here, " said Roddhurriedly. 

"No, I have not seen one to-day; but look at the fish we disturb. Theygo gliding away to right and left like so many flashes of silver andgold. "

"Now, boys, there's something, " said the doctor. "Right across theriver. " For there was a rush and a splash as some animal that hadevidently been wading close in under the bank sprang out of the waterwith a rush, and disappeared amongst the low growth. 

"What's that, captain?" cried Rodd, making a snatch at his gun. 

"Hog, " said the Spaniard quietly. "Did you see it?" asked Rodd. "No; Iknow the noise they make. Plenty here. " And then it was birds, anonflowers, and some two or three miles farther on Joe Cross, who sat justbehind the boys, tiller in hand, glanced at the doctor and asked--"Whichway?"

For the river forked into two of equal size, and at his question theSpaniard raised his eyelids a little and made a sign with his left hand. 

This branch proved to be if anything more rich in its objects of beautythan the winding stream they had left, for there was enough to sate eventhe most exacting lover of nature, while there always seemed to besomething fresh. One minute a sailor would be pointing out abrilliantly-scaled thin green serpent gliding along the surface of thewater, eel-like in motion, but with its back quite exposed to thesunshine, giving it the look of frosted silver, while before longanother man made his discovery, the whole party being eagerly on thewatch for fresh objects of interest, and at this, without waiting fororders, the rowers ceased dipping their oars, to let the boat driftslowly by a lovely curtain of fine strands and leaves dotted withflowers which hung down from some fifty feet up, till the tips of thetwigs touched the water. 

In amongst these vine-like branches a vividly-coloured serpent thatappeared to be some six or eight feet long, and but little thicker thana man's thumb, was deliberately climbing and twining, its eyes havingfirst attracted attention by sparkling in the sunshine. 

"Don't seem afraid of tumbling into the water, " suggested Joe. 

"Wouldn't matter if it did, " said Rodd. "You saw that one a littlewhile ago, how it could swim. "

"So, I did, sir; so I did, " replied the man, who was as much interestedas the naturalists of the party. "But there are such a lot of goodthings to see that one seems to shove the other out of your head. Now, what will that chap be doing there, slithering about over the water?Out for a walk?"

"Trying to catch one of those bright little sunbirds, I suppose, " saidRodd. 

"No, " said the doctor, who was watching the serpent through his glass. "I should say that one is after birds' nests. "

"Think of that!" cried Joe. "But he wouldn't blow the eggs, sir, wouldhe, and make a string?"

"No, my man, " said the doctor, smiling, "but swallow them, I should say, or the young birds that he might find in the nest. Why, Rodd, my boy, one wants three or four lives here, and then one wouldn't see half thewonders of this paradise. Here's world within world of wonder andbeauty. "

"Row away, my lads, " said the Spaniard, who seemed to have only oneobject in life, and that the re-lighting of cigarettes. 

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the men, and they dipped their oars again. 

Then on turning a bend of the stream there was a waft of warm wind tofan their cheeks, when the sailors forward stepped the mast, and hoistedthe yard of the lug-sail, which filled out at once, the rowers laid intheir dripping oars, which seemed to shed diamonds and pearls back intothe stream, and away they glided among the glories of the low flat land, through which streams seemed to run like veins, forming a perfect mazeof waterways, each if possible more beautiful than the other, whileproving wonderfully similar in width and depth, so much so that at last, after winding round bend after bend of the last stream they had entered, the doctor turned suddenly to their guide and said--

"Why, captain, how are we going to find the way back again?"

The captain opened his eyes slightly and smiled, as he took a littlecompass from his pocket. 

"With this, " he said; "but--pah! I could find my way here with my eyesshut. Look; there's a good place for a fire, and the boys here can getplenty of good fish, if you have a line, for the men to cook. "

At this suggestion Joe Cross handed the tiller to Rodd and made his wayforward to the locker, from which he produced a couple of fishing-lines. 

The boat was run ashore at a similar patch of sand to that where theyhad made their previous halt, and while some of the men were collectingdead wood from beneath the trees, there was a sudden rush, and somethingyellowish dropped with a thud from the nearest great fork, made four orfive great bounds through the low bushes, and disappeared. 

"Leopard, " said the Spanish captain quietly. "Get out your gun, sir. His mate will not be far away. "

He had hardly spoken before another of the great cats leaped from boughto bough of the huge forest tree they had approached, and disappeared inturn, escaping unscathed. 

"You are keeping your word, sir, " said Rodd. The Spaniard smiled, andremained in his place, while Joe Cross and the lads paddled the boat outagain to a spot the Spaniard pointed out, and there dropped the grapnel, before beginning to fish, using small pieces of fat pork for their bait. 

Long before the fire had burnt up enough for cooking purposes or thegreat kettle had boiled in the shade of the huge tree that had beenchosen for kitchen, bites had become frequent, and fine carp-like fish, whose golden scales glittered in the light, were being hauled into theboat; but eager though the lads were, and full of enjoyment of theirsport, it was hot out there in the sun, and arms were beginning to ache, while hunger asserted itself more and more. 

"I say, Morny, " cried Rodd, "enough's as good as a feast. "

"Yes, sir, " cried Joe, "and we have got enough and the feast to come, for these look as if they'd be good. Shall we put ashore?"

Rodd nodded assent, and soon after Joe and a couple of his mates hadbeen busy with their knives on the sandy river bank, the unwonted soundmade by a frying-pan arose from the fire, with the result that there wasno doubt about the carp-like fish being good, and the _al fresco_ dinnerproving a success. 

The afternoon was wearing on when the preparations for a fresh startwere made, the Spaniard promising the doctor that he would point outanother good resting-place for the night before it was dark. 

"All aboard!" cried Joe just then. "Why, look at that now! Well, there's plenty of fish left, Mr Rodd, and in this 'ere hot country wehad better have it fresh. "

"Why, I didn't expect to see them again, uncle, " cried Rodd, and hepointed across the river to where the two blacks with their canoe hadsuddenly appeared, as if they had been in hiding and watching thecooking going on till it seemed to them that their time had come, whenthey lay there with their boat just as before, apparently waiting tillthe strangers had gone on. 

"Do they mean to keep on following us like this, captain?" asked Rodd. 

"_Quien sabe_?" he said. "It is a free country, and you will not mind?"

"Mind! No, " cried Rodd. "But they will have to cook what are left forthemselves. I say, uncle, can we trust them to put the fire outafterwards?"

"Oh yes, my lad. I suppose we must. "

"That's right, Mr Rodd, sir. They'll take care not to fry themselves. But here, cookie, don't you leave them our pan. "

Once more as the boat swept round a bend a glimpse was caught of the twoblacks, who had no hesitation now about paddling across to the desertedhalting-place. 

The Spaniard was as good as his word that evening in guiding them toanother bivouac, and that night, feeling perfectly secure, the lads laydown to sleep, looking forward to another day of intense enjoyment inthe wondrous labyrinth of Nature's beauties, far from feeling satisfiedwith what had gone before. 

Three more days passed, and halt after halt had been made at spots whichalways presented just the right facilities required, the Spaniardproving how great was his knowledge of the geography of the countrythrough which they rowed or sailed, while the two blacks, who over andover again seemed to have disappeared, always turned up again ready forthe departure of the travellers, who now took it as a matter of courseto leave plenty of fish or flesh collected by the guns for the poorsavages' support. 

More than once the lads had made advances to these men, to try and getthem to approach, but their shyness and suspicion were most marked, andthey never came near till the departing boat was some distance off. 

"Now, " said the doctor, one evening, "I have been mentally marking downsuch birds and insects as I wish for us to collect, so to-morrow morningall this pleasure-seeking must come to an end, and we'll all work hard, shooting, skinning, and boxing a few butterflies as well. "

"What a pity!" said Rodd. "I should like to go on yet for weeks. "

"So should I, Pickle, but we must get back to the schooner. "

"And the brig, " cried Morny eagerly. 

"Yes, my lad, " said the doctor, "and I am afraid the Count will think wehave exceeded our time; but we shall be going steadily back fromto-morrow morning, collecting as we go, and I am sure you will agreethat we have had a grand excursion, everything having been mostsuccessful. "

The following morning broke as gloriously fine as ever. The fire wascrackling, and Joe Cross announced that it was not fish that morning, but fried bacon, and soon after the pleasant aromatic scent of thecoffee was rising in the morning air as they took their seats in theshade of a great fig-like tree whose boughs seemed to be full oftwittering and whistling love-birds gathered in a huge flock to feedupon the saccharine embedded seeds of the little fruit. 

"Hullo!" said the doctor suddenly, turning to Rodd. "Where's the Don?"

"Having another cigarette somewhere, I suppose, uncle, " said Rodd, laughing. "I thought he was along with you. "

"No, my boy, " replied Uncle Paul. "I thought he went with you thismorning when you made the men row a little farther along the stream. "

"That was only to take a last look upward and see what it was likefarther on before we turned back; and it is so beautiful up there--better than anything we have seen. I say, uncle, let's have anotherday. "

"No, no, Rodd, " cried Morny, catching him by the arm. "I couldn't bearit. We must go back now. "

"Quite right, Morny, my boy, " said the doctor quietly. "Yes, we havecome to the end of our tether. Let's get back to the Count and CaptainChubb. "

"Well, all right, " said Rodd. "Never mind what I said, Morny, old chap. I always was a pig when I was getting anything I liked. Let's havebreakfast, and then--

 "Huzza! We're homeward bound--ound--ound! Huzza! We're homeward bound!"

he trolled out merrily; and then, clapping his hands to his lips, "_Espanol_ ahoy!" he shouted. 

"Ahoy!" came back from the bank of trees across the little river. 

"_Espanol_ ahoy!" shouted the boy again, and there was the answeringecho. 

"Well, I hear you!" cried Rodd merrily. "But how did you get therewithout the boat?"

There was no answer to this. 

"Coffee and fried ham!" roared Rodd. 

"'Am!" came back. 

"Yes, but it's only bacon!" shouted Rodd. 

"'Acon!"

"Well, why don't you come?"

"Don't be stupid, Rodney, " cried the doctor shortly. "Here, Cross--cook--any of you; have you seen the Spanish skipper?"

"No, sir!" came in chorus. 

"Dear me, " said the doctor thoughtfully; "now I come to think of it Idon't remember seeing him this morning. "

"No, uncle; nor I neither. Did you see him, Morny?"

"No, not this morning. I saw him talking with you last night, sir. "

"Yes; that was when I was saying that we should start back for certain, and he went and lay down in his usual place, close to the side of thetent, directly afterwards. "

"Oh yes; he was there when we lay down, wasn't he, Morny?"

"Yes; I remember that. "

"But we have not seen him since, uncle. "

"Very strange, " said the doctor, and turning to the men he questionedthem in turn, with the result that all were sure that they had not seenthe Spaniard since over-night. 

The doctor and the two lads stood gazing at one another for some minutesin silence. 

"Do you think anything could have happened to him?" said Morny at last. 

"Oh no, " cried the doctor sharply. "He's too much at home here in thesewild parts for that. "

"But I was thinking, uncle--" said Rodd, in a hesitating way. 

"Thinking of what, my boy?"

"That there might be some few crocodiles up here in this narrow part ofthe river, after all. "

"Absurd, Rodney! Don't jump at conclusions like that!" cried thedoctor. 

"But they are such horribly fierce creatures, uncle. "

"Don't be absurd, sir! Is it likely that one of those reptiles couldhave come up out of the river, crawled into the tent, and dragged himout again, without some one knowing it? No; he must have got up earlyand gone off by himself somewhere, as this is as far as we were to go, meaning to see if he could find the traces of a chimpanzee, so as toshow us one or more before we start back. "

"Yes, that's possible, uncle, " said Rodd. "And perhaps he has foundone. "

"Very likely; and if he has he'll soon be back to take us on the trail. "

"Perhaps so, uncle, " said Rodd meaningly. 

"Why do you speak like that, sir?"

"Because I say he may have found one, uncle. "

"Well--and then?"

"The chimpanzee won't let him come back. "

"Really, Rodney, you make me very angry sometimes, " cried the doctor. "If ever there happens to be a little hitch of any kind you immediatelyclap it under your mental microscope and try to make it as large as youpossibly can. That's it for certain, Morny. He wants to keep perfectfaith with us, and so he has gone to see whether he can find any signsof these great apes. Well, we won't let the breakfast spoil, and itwould be a sort of madness to go hunting about in the forest for histracks; so come along. I dare say he'll be back long before we havedone. "

But the breakfast was eaten without any sign of the Spaniard, and nowthe doctor began to be thoroughly uneasy, for the time was there whenthey ought to be starting on their backward journey, and minute byminute he grew more impatient. 

His excitement was shared by the two lads, and the men were questionedagain and again, while all joined in searching round the littleencampment as far as was possible; and that was a very short distance, for almost directly after the stretch of sand was passed they came upondense shrubby growth, and beyond this there were the huge forest treesmatted together by vines and lianas into an impassable wall, while asfar as could be made out there was no trace of any one having tried toforce his way through. 

"Most singular thing, " said the doctor. "We can't go away and leave himalone in these wilds. But have everything ready for an immediate start, and we must wait. "

"I say, Morny, " said Rodd, "what do you make of this? Here, stop aminute, though. Can you think of any way by which he could go?"

Morny shook his head. 

"There's no path into the forest, " he said, "and it's just as dense onthe other side if any one ventured to swim across the river to go fromthere. "

"To go where?" said Rodd sharply. 

"I don't know. I was only thinking of what any one might try to do. "

"And then, " said Rodd, "there's only up the river and down the river, and he had no boat. But it's no use to bother; we have got to wait andsee; and we mustn't forget those two poor niggers. I wonder whetherthey will follow us back?"

"Sure to, " said Morny; "right back to the vessels. "

"Hi! Joe Cross!" cried Rodd. "Put what's left of the breakfast in awild banana leaf again and leave it on the bank. "

"Got it all ready here, sir, " was the reply. 

"Why, Morny, " cried Rodd, catching his companion sharply by the arm, "where are the niggers?"

"Where are the niggers?" said the young Frenchman, staring. 

"Yes; they have always been ready waiting till we finished our meals. They were there last night. "

"Yes, " said Morny; "they were there last night. "

"Then where are they this morning?"

Morny looked across the river and back at his companion, while thedoctor, who had been conversing with the men, came hurriedly up andjoined them. 

"What are you two talking about?" he said. 

"About those two blacks, uncle, " said Rodd, whose voice sounded ratherhusky. 

"What about them, sir?"

"They have always been hanging about, uncle, till we had done our meals, and then waited for what was left. "

"Yes. True. I saw them paddle across last night in the dark and fetchwhat was put for them, in a curious animal-like way. "

"But you didn't see them go back, uncle?"

"Yes, I did, sir, and I remember thinking how cat-like they were intheir actions, pouncing upon the food and eating it there and then. Iwatched them till they had done, so as to see them steal off again withtheir boat, and I meant to write a note about it in my paper regardingthis trip. "

"Well, they are not waiting this morning, uncle, " said the boymeaningly. 

"No, " said the doctor, glancing in the direction of the wild bananaleaf. 

"Well, uncle, what do you make of that?"

"I don't know, my lad. What do you make of it?"

"I don't quite know, uncle. They are savages. "

"Yes, boy, they are savages. "

"And they've got spears, uncle, " said the boy meaningly. 

"There you go again, sir!" cried Uncle Paul, irascibly now. "You knowperfectly well, Rodney, how this sort of thing annoys me. I suppose thenext thing you will be telling me is that one of them came with hisspear and behaved as one of Captain Cook's friends says the Australianblacks behaved to the girls they wanted to steal for their wives. "

"No, I don't, uncle, " cried the boy ill-humouredly. "I don't know whatCaptain Cook's friends say. I hardly know who Captain Cook is--Yes, Ido: he's the man who sailed round the world. "

"Well, then, I'll tell you, sir. He said the blacks come in the dark, twist their spears in the girls' hair, and carry them away. And Isuppose you mean to infer that that's what has become of the Spanishcaptain?"

"I don't, uncle, " cried Rodd. 

"But if you do, sir, you are wrong; for the Don, as you two ladsnicknamed him, had hardly a bit of hair on his head. There, there, there; being cross won't make any better of it. Hope to goodness thatnothing has happened to the poor fellow. Can't have got up in the nightand walked away in his sleep, can he?"

"Well, but if he had, uncle, he must have woke up by this time, and thenhe'd walk back again. "

"Well, we can't go without him, my dear lads. He has been a veryfaithful servant to us, and it would be a mean, cowardly, despicable actfor us to leave him in the lurch. Oh, it's impossible. It would belittle better than murder to leave a man here without a boat. "

Rodd looked hard at Morny, as if questioning him with his eyes; and sothe French lad took it to be, for he made a deprecating gesture with hishands. 

The doctor was watching his nephew keenly, and now clapped him sharplyon the shoulder. 

"What are you thinking about, sir?" he cried. 

"About what you said, uncle, " said the lad, rather confusedly. 

"I didn't say anything, sir. I was listening to you. "

"Yes, you did, Uncle Paul, " said the boy sternly. "You said that itwould be murder to leave a man here without a boat. "

"Oh, of course. So I did. And so it would be, sir. But now look here, Rodd. I haven't known you, sir, since you were little more than a babywithout being able to read some of the changes which come over yourface. What were you thinking about that boat?"

"I was thinking, uncle, suppose he had one. "

"But he hadn't one. Look here, sir; you are thinking something, andsuspecting something. "

"Yes, uncle, I am; but I don't know what. "

"I suppose that's because you were prejudiced against the Spaniard bywhat Chubb said. "

"I suppose so, uncle. You know how he said he wouldn't trust that man abit?"

"Yes, yes. "

"Well, I always felt that I couldn't trust him a bit. "

"Prejudice, boy--prejudice. "

"I dare say it was, uncle; and when I found how he showed us everythingwe wanted I tried to believe in him; but my head felt as if it wouldn'tgo. "

"He hadn't got a boat; he hadn't got a boat, " said the doctor, as if tohimself. 

"No, uncle; but suppose he had got a canoe?"

"That's it, " cried Morny excitedly. "You are right, Rodd. You thinkthose were his two men?"

"Yes, " said Rodd. "Two black fellows out of his schooner. "

"And--and--" panted Morny, as the doctor's jaw fell and he stood staringat the two lads, utterly speechless--"you believe that he has led usright out here in this wild maze of a place to lose us, while he goesback to--to--"

The poor fellow broke down, and Rodd caught him by the hand; but Mornyin the passion of his emotion snatched his away. 

"Don't--don't say it!" he cried. --"While he has gone back for who knowswhat? Oh, father, father, why did I come away?"

"Stop, boys, stop!" cried Uncle Paul; and to the surprise of both heplumped himself down upon the sand, drawing up his knees, planting hiselbows upon them, and resting his burning head upon his hands. "Wait abit, " he said. "I want to think; I want to think; I want to think. Ah-h-h!" he groaned, at last. "Who could have imagined it? Who couldhave thought it? A trick--a ruse!"

Then springing up he looked sharply round, to see that the boat's crewwere grouped together watching him wonderingly, and that seemed to bringhim to himself at once. He turned sharply upon Rodd and gave him agrave nod of the head, and said quietly--

"I am afraid you are right, my boy. Morny, my lad, I told your fatherthat in this expedition you should be to me as my son. Let me play thefather to you now, and tell you that it is your duty to act as a man. "

"Act as a man, sir--" began Morny. 

"Yes, my boy; act and not talk. Aboard, every one of you, my lads, " hecontinued, to the sailors. "I am afraid we have been wiled away here bya cunning trick, for what reason remains to be proved. But whatever itmeans, we are twelve staunch men with our duty before us, and that is, to get back as quickly as possible to the schooner and the brig. I maybe deceived, but I believe we are the victims of a plot, and if so I amafraid it will go hard with that Spaniard when we meet. Now, then, Idon't know how long it will take, but we have got to do it, and when weget back to our schooner, no matter what has happened, there's tenguineas apiece as a sort of prize-money for the brave lads who havehelped to pull us through. "

A loud excited cheer burst from the crew, and several voices broke inafterwards with something indistinguishable amidst the noise. 

"What's that? What's that I hear?" cried the doctor sharply to JoeCross. 

"The lads say they don't want no ten guineases, sir, but they'd all giveas much as that to get hold of that dirty Spaniel by the neck. "

"Hah!" ejaculated the doctor. "Now then, not ten guineas, but twenty, for the man among you who can guide us through this wilderness of watersback to our stout Devon boat. Now then, who's the one among you who canact as guide?"

A dead silence fell upon the group, and for the first time since theirstart a black storm-cloud began to spread slowly over the sky. 

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. 

WET DUST IN THE EYE. 

It was the precursor of a terrible tropic tempest, with bluish lightningthat was blinding, while the roar of heaven's artillery was incessant. But not a man blenched as the rowers bent to their oars, gladdened bythe feeling that the current was with them, as they sent the boatrapidly along for their last halting-place. But a mile had hardly beencovered when, with a wild shriek and roar, down came the rain, not inshowers or in drops, but in sheets so heavy that before a minute hadelapsed every one was drenched, and soon after two of the men had tobegin to bale. 

To proceed was impossible, and braving the risk, the boat was rowedbeneath the overhanging branches of one of the monarchs of the primevalforest which reached its limbs far out over the stream, and there, somewhat protected, the boat was moored. For quite a couple of hoursthe little party crouched in the bottom, aiding the shelter by spreadingthe sail over the awning, the men holding on to keep the canvas frombeing swept off by the howling gale, while the rain poured off inbuckets-full, as the men said. 

Then a new danger attacked them. The stream swelled and swelled tillthe boat rose feet higher and was forced in among the low-hangingbranches, while the great risk now was that they might be swept out andalong the furious torrent into which the sluggish river had been turned. 

But just as it seemed impossible to hold on any longer, and when theforest on either side had become river too, the rain ceased as suddenlyas it had begun, the wind dropped, and the clouds began to pass away, while in less than an hour the sun was shining brightly down, and hugeclouds of steam floated over the flooded land. 

It was impossible to cast off from their mooring, for every man agreedthat to follow the course of the rushing water would mean that theywould be swept away from the river and in all probability be capsizedbefore they had gone many hundred yards. 

There was nothing for it, then, but to bale hard and free the boat fromwater, wring out and try to dry their saturated garments, and do whatthey could in the way of drying the sail and awning, in the hope thatthe flood would soon pass away. 

Fortunately Cross was soon able to announce that the water was sinking, and this continued so rapidly that before many hours had passed theywere able to put off once more into the stream, which had pretty wellreturned to the limits of its banks; and the drying of their clothes andof such stores as had suffered followed in rapid course. 

But it was a disheartening commencement of their journey back to themain river, and darkness fell upon a desolate and terribly depressedcompany, who passed the night of solitude and despair wondering what hadhappened at the anchorage where the brig had been left careened. 

Rodd had tried to whisper comfort to his comrade, but only to be metwith imploring words, the lad begging to be allowed to sit and think;and Rodd respected his prayer. 

No better fortune attended him with Uncle Paul, who sternly bade him besilent. 

"I too must think, my lad, " he said--"and pray. "

The silence was shared by the sailors, who only indulged in a whispernow and then. 

And how the rest of that night passed away Rodd hardly knew. Of onething only was he quite certain, and that was that sleep never visitedthe occupants of that boat. 

Daylight at last, when such provisions as were absolutely necessary werepartaken of as the boat went steadily down-stream, for there was waterenough in the river still to have completely changed its sluggishcharacter, while this was hailed by the men with delight, seeing that ithelped their course, while wherever the wind was available the sail washoisted and they sped along, every one keeping a sharp look-out fortheir last bivouac but one, it having been decided amongst them thatthey must have been swept by that one, which was hidden by the swollenstream. 

But in spite of the keen observation of the sailors and the sharplook-out by the doctor and the two lads, that day passed without thefamiliar sandy embayment among the trees being sighted, and before longit became a certainty that they were gliding along a different channelto any they had passed before. 

The flood might have altered the stream to a certain extent, but theypassed banks that were certainly different, and just at dusk when abrisk breeze was blowing they glided through an opening among the treeswhich did not seem familiar, and the question arose, should they turnback?

But before it was settled, darkness fell, and another dismal night waspassed. 

The next day broke bright and fine, and encouraged thereby, every manwas keenly on the alert to try and sight one of the Spaniard'shalting-places; but it was long before such an opening was found, andthen when it was hailed with delight as their resting-place at the endof that day's work, it was forced upon them that they had never beenthere before. 

Fortunately, though their stores were diminished in quantity, fish wereplentiful, and every now and then a bird fell to Rodd's or the doctor'sgun, for it was felt to be a necessity, as more and more all realisedthat they were involved in a perfect labyrinth or network of wateryways, and that their stores should be supplemented. For opening afteropening in the great walls of verdure kept presenting itself, nearlyalways involving the party in a dispute as to whether they had beenthere before, till their mental confusion became greater, their ideasmore sadly confused, and the tract of low-lying water-netted country, far from seeming the paradise through which they had glided on their wayup, now seemed the dwelling-place of despair. 

"Isn't there one of you who can guide us aright?" cried the doctordespairingly. "Is it possible that what seemed so easy to thattreacherous Spanish wretch should prove such a horrible problem to usall?"

For a time no one spoke, the men hanging their heads, and by way ofshowing their earnestness tugging harder at their oars. But at the nextappeal Joe Cross was egged on to make some answer. 

"You see, sir, " he said, "there isn't anything we wouldn't do for you. The lads here are sharp enough, but they wants a handle to work them. We are only sailors, used to having an officer over us, and without himwe aren't much account. "

"Oh, " groaned the doctor to Rodd, "and I cannot direct them! Rodd, boy, my brain feels as if it were giving way. "

"Don't be down-hearted, sir. Don't chuck up your pluck, younggentlemen, " continued the poor fellow earnestly. "We must get out atlast. It all seemed so easy as we come up; but without that Spanishchap, and now that it seems to be all turned upside down like, as we arecoming back'ards, it's like looking for a needle in a bottle of hay. You see, me and my messmates have turned it all over in our heads, andit always comes to this, that that storm either made us take a wrongturning, or else that that Spaniard took us into a tangle ofwatercourses out of which no one but him and them niggers could find theway. "

"Yes, yes, " said the doctor; "we were thoroughly trapped into what hasproved to be a horrible maze. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Joe. "And amazing it is; but we are not going togive up, sir. Wish we may all die if we do; for you see, it must allcome right at last. We have a lot of provisions, plenty of powder andshot; we can't fail for fresh water, which is a great thing for sailors;there's wood enough to make fires for five hundred years; and as forgood fish to eat, why, you could almost catch them with your hands. "

"No, my men, " said the doctor, more firmly, "we are not going todespair, for if we keep going down-stream we must reach the main riverat last. "

"That's what I keep thinking, uncle, " cried Rodd; "but every time weturn out of one of these rivers we seem to get into another, and I wantto know why it is that we have never yet come upon a sandy patch wherewe made a fire. "

Embayments of this kind they found again and again during the next fewdays of their, so to speak, imprisonment in this labyrinth, and in whichthey were fain to halt for food and sleep; but whether the flood hadobliterated all signs of their occupation, or whether the places wereabsolutely fresh, they never knew. 

One thing was determined on, and that to keep on with dogged Britishobstinacy till the problem was solved, and after losing count of thedays that they had spent in the forest, and after vain usage of thecompass, which had only seemed to lead them more and more astray, theyhad their reward one noon, when the boat was run up on to the sand of aforest nook which seemed strikingly familiar, and Rodd and Morny bothsprang out, gun in hand, followed by Joe Cross, who excitedly cried--

"All right, gentlemen! Here we are at last! I'd just swear to thistree and that other big one right across the river. "

"Yes, " cried the doctor; "this, I am quite certain, is where we set upour tent the night we missed our guide. "

"The morning, uncle, " cried Rodd. "Yes, boy; I should have said themorning. Look, Morny! You do not speak. Isn't this our lasthalting-place on our way up?"

The French lad gave his hands a despairing wave in the air. 

"Yes, " he said; "that's what I feel, sir. Why, we have been all theseweary, weary days trying to get back to the river so that we might rowaway to the brig, and this is the spot from which we started!"

"Well, gentlemen, " cried Joe Cross, "I say hooray to that. Yes, this isthe place, aren't it, messmates?"

"Yes, yes, " came in an excited chorus, for the discovery seemed to havesent a thrill of joy through all the men. 

"That's right, messmates, " cried Joe. "Then all we have got to do now, gentlemen, is to try and take our bearings right, rub the wet dust outof all our eyes, and make a fresh start. "

"The wet dust, Joe!" cried Rodd, with the nearest approach to a smilewhich had appeared upon his face for many days. "Here, uncle, get outthe compass, and let's see what we can do with that. "

"No, " said the doctor quietly. "We must make a fresh start, but it mustbe calmly and well, and after food and a good night's rest. Collectwood, my lads, to make a fire. Boys, take your guns and go up-stream alittle higher where we have never been before, and shoot what birds youcan. Two or three of you men do what you can from the shore with thefishing-lines. To-morrow morning we will start calmly and trustingly tothe river once again. Be of good heart, Morny, my lad, for the end ofour awful struggle must be coming near, and every one of us must do allhe can to help his brother for the one great end. "

A cheer rose at the doctor's words, and the change in the whole partywas wonderful. 

All worked with such energy that long before darkness set in the tentwas rigged up for the night, a good meal had been prepared, and almostas full of hope as on the night when they had last encamped there fortheir rest, a couple of hours were pleasantly passed before the fire wasonce more made up and the watch set. Very soon afterwards all wereplunged in a deep and restful sleep, one from which Rodd and Morny werestartled by a terrific clap of thunder. Then the interior of their tentwas lit up by a vivid blue flash of lightning, by which they saw thewatch--Joe Cross and one of the sailors leaning over them, the formersaying--

"There's going to be an awful--"

"Storm, " he would have said, but his words were drowned by another crashwhich came instantly upon a sheet of lightning, and pretty well stunnedthem with its roar. 

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. 

STORM WATERS. 

In the intervals between the almost incessant peals of thunder Joe Crossinformed the lads that the storm had been coming on for the last threehours, faint and distant at first, the merest mutterings, and graduallyincreasing till it was the terrific tempest now raging. 

"They must have had it horrid, sir, somewhere, only I don't supposethere's no people. What we had before was nothing to it. "

"There, " cried the doctor, "something must be done to the boat in theway of making it thoroughly secure. "

"Can't be no securer, sir. We've got her moored head and stern to atree, and two grapnels down as well. "

"Capital, " cried the doctor. "Well thought of! But we must have thesail and some of the canvas that we have got here spread over the boatto keep the water out. "

"That's done, sir, as far as the stuff would go, and now I want what wehave got up here, before the rain comes. "

"Down with it at once, " said the doctor; and in an incredibly shortspace of time the tent was struck, what they had ashore was transferredto the boat, and she was covered in as much as was possible. 

And none too soon, for the party had only just embarked when a few heavydrops of rain came pattering down upon the tightened canvas, soonincreasing to quite a deluge, but, with the peculiarity of a tropicstorm, just when it was beginning to try the canvas and threatening tosoak the interior of the boat, it ceased almost instantaneously, andthey sat listening to the rushing sound of the rain as it swept over theforest, rapidly growing more distant till it died away. 

"Gone!" cried Rodd excitedly. "We didn't want any more troubles, and itwould have been dreadful to have been wet through again. "

"Don't be too hopeful, my boy, " said Uncle Paul. "That may only be theadvance guard of a far worse storm. It seems too much to think this isthe end. "

"It might be all, sir, " said Joe Cross, "for it's been an awful bad 'un, going on for hours in the distance. "

"Then we shall be having the water rise again, " cried Uncle Paul. 

"Yes, sir; that's what I thought, " replied the man, "and why I mooredthe boat so fast. "

"Quite right, " cried the doctor, "for likely enough we shall be havingthe water coming down from far away, and we must hold on here at anycost, or we shall be lost again. "

"What time do you suppose it is, Joe?" asked Rodd. 

"Wants about a couple of hours to daylight, sir. "

"Morning!" cried the lads together. "Ah, then it will be easier tobear!"

During the rest of the darkness it was evident that the storm had passedover them. There were a few distant mutterings of thunder and littleflickerings of lightning which grew fainter and fainter, to die away inthe west. 

The sailors crept out from beneath their awning on to the sand, and wereable to announce that the river had only risen a few inches, and therain that had fallen had rapidly soaked in and drained off, while apleasant cool air swept briskly over them from the east, heralding afresh bright dawn, which came at last with all the promise of a gloriousday. 

With some difficulty a fire was started, but once begun the men sooncontrived to get up sufficient for the hurried breakfast; the canvas wasstruck where necessary, and the rest spread to dry in the comingsunshine; and then all being ready for their next start, the doctorconsulted with the coxswain, who after a little pressing gave hisopinion as to what would be the best course to take. 

"You see, sir, " he said, "I have been thinking that I could get us backto our last camping-place; I mean, before we came here. "

"Well, that's what we all thought before, Joe, " cried Rodd pettishly. 

"Wait, Rodney, my boy, and let Cross finish, " said the doctor. 

"I've about done, sir, " said the man. "What Mr Rodd says is quitetrue, but he aren't quite got what I mean. You see, sir, when we comeup here with the Spanish skipper aboard I sat astarn steering, and whenwe went away again I had hold of the tiller once more, same as before. "

"Well, we know that, " said Rodd shortly. "Be silent, Rodney!" cried thedoctor. "Go on, Cross. "

"Well, sir, when we come I was looking this 'ere way; when we startedback I was looking t'other way. Now it seems to me, now we are going tostart again, if instead of sitting astarn and looking straight forward, if I was to go and sit right in the bows and left somebody else to steerwhile I looked over his head, I should be looking up both sides of theriver just as it was when we were coming, and I should see the landmarksagain as I saw them when we were coming here, and consekently I shouldknow my way better, and I don't think I should miss the nextlanding-place again. "

"Yes, I see what you mean, " cried Rodd excitedly. "Why, to be sure, Joe! Don't you see, uncle?"

"Yes, " cried the doctor. "Quite right, Cross. We will start at once, going as slowly as we can, and we will, all but the steersman, ridebackwards, keep a sharp look-out, and help. --What's the matter, Morny?"

For the young Frenchman had suddenly started up in the boat, to standpeering in the direction that they were about to take, and held up hishand as if to command silence. 

"What's that?" cried Rodd, leaping up too. 

"What?" asked the doctor. 

"Sounds like distant roaring of some kind of wild beast, sir, " said oneof the men. 

"That it aren't, messmate, " said Joe, who had also risen to his feet, and stood with his hand behind his ear. "It's another storm coming. Nay, it aren't. It's all bright and clear that way. Why, it's water, gentlemen, coming with a rush from just the way we want to go. "

"Impossible!" cried the doctor. "Why, it would be against the stream. "

"I don't care, sir, begging your pardon. I've been in the Trent and theSevern and the Wye. It was only when I was a boy, but I recollect rightenough. It's what they used to call a bore, with a great wave of watercoming up the river like a flood and washing all before it. "

"Had we better land?" cried the doctor. 

"And lose our boat, sir? No. Be smart, my lads. It can't be very faraway. All eight of you, oars out, and we must keep our head to it so aswe can ride over the big wave and let it pass under us. I don't supposethere will be much of it. It's a sort of flood water coming down fromyonder after the storm, and it will soon be over. Don't you worry aboutit, gentlemen. It will be nothing to a big wave at sea. "

The men made ready with all the discipline of a trained crew, and headswere turned in the direction of the increasing sound, while it seemedhard to believe, in the midst of the brilliant sunshine, with the smoothriver gliding onwards as if to meet the supposed wave, that there couldbe anything wrong. 

The expected danger had seemed to be close at hand, but it had been farmore distant than the party had supposed, for the roar went on steadilyincreasing, but with no other suggestion of peril save the noise, thoughthat was enough to make the stoutest-hearted there quail. 

It seemed an age, but was certainly less than an hour, before the dullheavy roar began to be mingled with a strange crashing and breakingsound which puzzled all, till the coxswain, who was standing up in thebows, boat-hook in hand, announced that it was the breaking of trees andcrashing together of their branches as they were being torn up by theroots. 

"Impossible!" said the doctor impatiently. 

"Nay, sir, it aren't, " said the man. "I don't mean the big trees, butthe little 'uns along the banks; and it's getting close here, sir. It'sa big flood, that's what it is, coming down from the mountains, forthere must be some inland. There! Look yonder. Can't you see thetrees beginning to wave? It's just as if a lake had broke loose and wascoming sweeping over the country. You, Harry Briggs, hold fast to thattiller. You others, look at your work, and pull. Turn your heads, youlubbers! I'll do all the looking out. And when I say row, everymother's son of you pull for his life. "

Joe Cross's words were beginning to sound indistinct before he hadfinished, half-smothered as they were by the increasing roar, as fromfar down the river a dark line of something could be seen rising somesix or eight feet like a huge bank extending right across the river andapparently into the forest on both sides. 

For as far as eye could reach the trees seemed to be in a strange stateof agitation, the lower branches bending towards the party in the boat, as if beneath the blast of a tremendous gale. 

"Sit fast, boys, every one!" yelled Joe; but he stood upright himself, and the next minute with a wild rush a great bank of water was uponthem, seeming to come with a leap and dash, to plunge beneath the boat'sbows as if to toss her on high and roll her over and over in the flood. But as it struck them the trained men sat for a moment or two, till inlittle more than a whisper above the roar of water, Joe Cross's voicewas heard to give the order "Pull, " when seven balanced oars dippedtogether, and the bows began to sink. 

The men got well hold of the water, and after three or four rapid tugsthe boat sat level once more upon the surface of the flood, obeyed herhelm, and though being carried rapidly along stern on, she shipped verylittle water, and in a very few minutes the greater peril was passed. 

The crashing roar and rush of the water was almost deafening, but Joeretained his upright position and signalled with one hand to thesteersman, while he followed suit to the rowers, who kept up a steadypull against the furious stream, with the result that now the boat spedon stern foremost at the same rate as the flood. 

But the frail craft was exposed to endless risks as the water rushedalong between the two great walls of verdure which marked out thedevious winding course of the river. Time after time they were withinan ace of being swept amidst the boughs of some towering tree; at othersthey were brushing over the tops of the shrub-like growth; and yetamidst the many dangers the crew never flinched, but kept on for hourafter hour, head to stream, with the boat always being borne onwardalong straight reaches and round winding curves which looped and almostdoubled back, till at last the violence of the flood grew less, leavingthem more and more behind, till the greatest danger was over and thespeed at which they glided was reduced to nearly half that of the firstrush of the flood. 

Another hour passed, and they were still gliding on, and now as theywere swept into a wider reach, it was plain to see how the whole forestwas flooded on either side, apparently to the depth of some six or eightfeet, as near as the coxswain could judge. 

Four times over he had drawn attention to the fact that they werepassing the entrances to similar rivers to that down which they sped, one of them being remarkable for the fact that a portion of their streamset right into it, while from the others it glided out in the oppositeway. Soon afterwards, with a little clever scheming, the boat wasguided into an eddy where the water swirled round comparatively slack;and here her head was turned and she resumed her strange journey onwardin the normal way. 

The men's labour too now had pretty well ceased, only a dip or two ofthe oars being required occasionally to keep the boat's head straightand make her answer her helm. 

And now conversation became more general. The danger being evidentlyover, one man hazarded a joke, something about a near shave, whileanother said it was a pity because they would have all this 'ere work togo over again. 

Joe Cross heard the remark, and this started him talking, as he laiddown his boat-hook and wiped his streaming face. 

"Yes, Mr Rodd, " he said, "you wanted to come farther up the river, andhere you have had it. Well, I suppose when the flood's spread all overit will do same as they always does, begin to drain off again and carryus back. But I am afraid, Dr Robson, sir, that I must give up what Iundertook to do. "

"What?" cried the doctor. 

"Ride back'ards, sir, and find the way out of this wet cat's-cradle of aplace. I am very sorry, sir. "

"Sorry!" cried the doctor cheerily. "My good fellow, what you have doneduring the last few hours has earned the lasting gratitude of us all. "

"Has it, sir?" said the man, staring. "Why?"

"Haven't you saved all our lives, " cried the doctor, "by your clevermanagement of the boat?"

"Oh, that's what you mean, sir! But you must play fair, sir. Youmustn't blame me for that. Part on it's my being on board a man-of-war;part on it's due to Captain Chubb. So you must thank him. "

The doctor smiled, and noting this absence of anxiety, Rodd broke outwith--

"I say, uncle, Morny's starving. Isn't it time we had something toeat?"

"Oh, Rodd!" cried Morny. 

"Yes, of course, " replied the doctor. "See what you can do, cook, atonce. But surely, Cross, some of the men might lay in their oars?"

"Yes, sir, and if it goes on like this I don't see that we need let thisflood keep on carrying us farther away. There's a nice wind, and not somuch washed-out wood afloat. I am thinking I might have the sailhoisted and begin to sail back. But my word, look here: how we arewidening out, sir! Look ahead yonder. It's getting 'most like a lake. Perhaps it is one. "

"No, " cried Rodd; "it's the river still. Look yonder at the forestright along the bank. "

"Yes, sir, but I was looking at the forest on both sides here where weare. Why, we are running into another river. It aren't a lake, butit's ten times as big as this one that we've been spinning along, and--Well! it's a rum 'un! No; it's unpossible. "

"What's impossible?" cried Rodd sharply, and all gazed at the sailor, who sat looking forward, holding on by one ear and scratching the other. 

"Why, this 'ere, Mr Rodd, sir. Just you look, Dr Robson, and see whatyou think on it. "

"Of what, my man?"

"Why, this 'ere, sir, what I am asking you of. Can't you see, Mr Rodd, sir?"

"I can see that we are gliding out of a muddy stream covered with greentwigs and great tufts of jungle grass, into a big river flowing rightacross us and all thick with what seems to be a different-coloured mud. "

"That's right, sir; and didn't you see that splash, just as far off asyou could look?"

"No, Joe. "

"Would you mind lending me that there glass of yourn, sir?" said Joe tothe doctor, who passed the little field-glass to the man, whose handstrembled as he focussed it to suit his eye, and he once more stood up inthe boat and swept the water as far as he could see. 

"Thank you, sir, " he said, handing it back. "Perhaps you would like tohave a look yourself. But it's all right, gentlemen, and my lads. Them's crocs out yonder, and we have been washed out into the big riveragain with no more trouble; and if we don't see our brig and ourschooner again before many hours, why, my name aren't Joe!"

CHAPTER FORTY SIX. 

A KNOT IN THE NETWORK. 

Incredulity was impossible, although at first it was very hard tobelieve. But there was the fact. They had been wandering through thesluggish network of streams of a vast tropic, marshy forest, until atremendous storm in the hinterland had flooded the low country and theyhad been swept out again far away from the spot where the Spanishcaptain had guided them in, and, as they were soon to learn, for reasonsof his own. 

Without question they had descended some miles along the main river, which ran swiftly, burdened as it was by the waters of the flood, butnot sufficiently to do more than raise it to a rather abnormal height. Still it was not safe to continue their journey downward by night, andin spite of the anxiety of all, the boat was moored to a huge tree upwhich the water had risen some three or four feet, and all anxiouslywatched for the coming of the next day. They slept but little, forthere was so much to discuss, the doctor feeling now sure that when theymissed the Spanish captain it must have been because when all wereasleep he had stolen down to where the two blacks would be waiting forhim with their canoe, and then gone on up the river beyond their camp. 

"But I don't see quite what for, uncle, " said Rodd. 

"I do, " cried Moray. "He knew the country so well, and our ignorance, which would make us go wandering helplessly about, while he knew of anearer way out into this river again, through which we seem to have beenprovidentially swept. "

"That's right--quite right, Moray, " said the doctor. "You see now, Rodd?"

"Yes, uncle, it's quite clear now. I wish I wasn't so dense. Do yousee, Joe?"

"I didn't afore, sir; but it's all as clear as crystal now, and I shouldjust like to explain it to the lads. My word, gentlemen! That chap'sbeen running up a big bill again hisself, and when we get hold of himhe'll have to pay!"

"What are you thinking of, Moray?" said Rodd, a little while after, while they were sitting listening in the darkness to the murmur of Joe'svoice forward as he was explaining matters to the men. 

"I was thinking, " said Moray gravely, "of how long it would be before itis day. "

The longest night comes to an end, and the breaking of that next dayshowed the river much sunken and pretty well at its normal tidal height;and with four men rowing steadily the boat glided downward, with the sunwhen it rose showing first one and then another landmark which seemedfamiliar; but after their one journey upward no one present could recallhow far they were above the careening place. 

Again and again as they passed round some great bend Moray rose from hisseat, and, as Rodd afterwards told him, made them all miserable bygazing wildly downwards in the expectation of catching sight of thebrig, or of seeing his father in his boat coming upward in search of themissing ones, who had quite outstepped the time that their stay was tolast. 

It was always the same; the poor fellow sank back into his placewearily, his countenance drawn and a look of despair in his eyes. Atsuch times Rodd would watch his opportunity, steal his hand quietlyalong, and give Morny's arm a long and friendly grip, with the resultthat the dim eyes would brighten a little and dart a grateful glance inthe English lad's direction. 

The journey downwards seemed endless, and proved to be far longer thanany one there anticipated. But just as the longest and darkest watchnights come to their end, so it was here, when, skimming along undersail, taking long reaches, for the wind was abeam, all at once JoeCross, who was the first to see, sang out a loud and hearty--

"Ship ahoy!"

"Hah!" cried Morny. "Do you see the brig?"

"No, sir, " replied the man, as Morny, the doctor and Rodd shaded theireyes and gazed down-stream; "I can't make out the brig. "

"Oh, you don't half look, " cried Rodd. "There's the Spanish schooner, and ours, and just beyond them, half hidden by the trees and land, thereare the tops of the masts of the brig. Hurrah, Morny! She's all right, afloat, and--Here, what are you looking that way for?"

"Because I can't see her, " said the French lad despairingly. "There issomething wrong. "

"Why, my dear old chap, " cried Rodd, "you can't see well, because of thetrees, but as we get farther out, there she lies, to the left, with hertwo masts as plain as plain. "

"I can see those two masts you mean, " said Morny sternly, "but they arelow-down raking masts; the _Dagobert's_ are much higher, and stand upstiffer than those. Do you forget she's square-rigged? Why, that's aschooner. "

"So it is, " cried Rodd. "I was deceived by the two yards on herforemast. But look here, it can't be another schooner. Captain Chubbmay have been altering her rig when he got her upright again. Why, ofcourse! It must be so. There can't be three schooners there. Theymust have had some accident to the brig's mainmast when they raised heragain. Broke her topgallant, perhaps, and rigged her fore and aft. "

"Not they, Mr Rodd, sir. Our old man would have cut a spar somewherefrom the forest and rigged her square, if it was only a jury-mast. 'Sides, they'd got spare spars on board, same as we. That's anotherschooner. You can see her clearer now--a long low one, with masts thatrake more than the Spanish skipper's vessel. Strikes me as we shallfind that for some reason or another they haven't got the brig afloat. "

"Another schooner, Joe?" cried Morny passionately. "The brig notfinished? For some reason or another! What reason? What does it allmean?"

"Be calm, my lad; be calm, " cried the doctor. "In a very little whilewe shall know the worst, or the best. Mind, we know nothing as yet. Itis all suspicion. For aught we can say to the contrary, that man whomwe have condemned may be innocent, misjudged by us, and now be lying atthe bottom of the river where we missed him in that mysterious way. "

Morny bowed his head and tried to look gratefully at the doctor; but hisagony was too great, and he stood there till their boat had got to theend of its tack and swung round in the other direction, when with shadedeyes he gazed before him wildly, trying to get a view beyond where thethree schooners could now be plainly seen, anchored in mid-stream. 

But for some time the curvature of the river put this out of thequestion, and to break the painful silence the doctor said quietly--

"Another long low schooner, with raking masts. But it may be onlyanother trader, anchored in company with the rest. "

"Ah, " cried Morny to Joe Cross, "you see something more than we do!"For the man, who was looking out from beyond the sail, suddenly gave astart and angrily slapped his thigh. 

"Well, I'm very sorry, sir; but yes, I do. The brig's lying careenedright over, just as she was when we started on our trip. "

"But look here, Morny, " cried the doctor; "that may mean nothing morethan that she is not finished yet. Remember, to those we left we aremissing, and in their anxiety about our lengthened stay they may havestarted up-stream to find us. "

"You are saying this to comfort me, " cried Morny passionately. "No, doctor; we have got to face the worst. It is not so. "

It seemed cruelty to prolong the conversation, and soon after the orderwas given to lower the sail and unstep the mast, for the wind had prettywell dropped as they swept in towards where the vessels were anchored, and the distance being short, the men took to their oars once more, while, with no impediment to their view, the doctor took out his glassand offered it to Morny. But the lad made a quick gesture, and sat backlooking straight before him, while the doctor used the glass himself, gazing with it first at the brig, about whose hull no one was visible, while all seemed still on board the three schooners. 

"Take a look, Rodney, " said the doctor aloud, as he handed the glass. "I can see nothing wrong. "

Rodd eagerly took the glass, raised it to his eyes, and said quietly--

"Why, I can't see a soul on board the _Sally_, uncle, and the people onthe other schooners must be asleep. They haven't seen us yet--Yes, theyhave!" he cried. "The men are hurrying up on our vessel from below, but--"

"But what, my boy?"

"I--I don't quite know, uncle. Something isn't right. Oh, Morny, whathave I said?"

As the boy spoke he let the glass drop to the full length of his arm, and in all probability it would have fallen to the bottom of the boathad not Joe Cross caught it in his hand. 

"May I look, sir?" he said sharply, and without waiting for consent, heraised it to his eyes and quickly scanned all three of the schooners inturn. 

"It's no use beating about, gentlemen, " he said sharply. "Something iswrong, for all three decks are swarming now with men like bees--wasps, Iought to say, " he muttered, as he concentrated his gaze upon the _Maidof Salcombe_. "Our vessel, doctor, is in the hands of pirates, orslavers, and they are making ready the long gun. Now, my lads, lookalive. Every man buckle on his arms and then load. "

The oars were allowed to swing from the tholes, and the boat was left toglide slowly downwards, while in their smart orderly way her crewprepared for action. 

"You will load too, gentlemen--with ball. Now, doctor, will you takecommand and lead us?"

"What to do?" asked the doctor. 

"Why, to take our schooner again, sir. She's in the hands of an enemy. "

"But is it possible that we can do this, Cross?" cried the doctor. 

"I don't know, sir, for she's got a lot of men on board; but we have gotto try. "

"Stop. Let me think, " said the doctor. "I am no man of war, and thisis not in my way. If any unfortunate fellow were wounded I could do mybest. But look here, my lads; you are nearly all men-of-war's men, andyou, Morny, you are a naval officer. Seeing the odds before us, what isour duty here?"

"To fight, " cried the young man passionately, through his clenchedteeth. 

"Ay, ay, sir!" came heartily from the men; and as the doctor turned hiseyes inquiringly upon Rodd, who was fiercely ramming the second bulletupon the small shot already in the two barrels of his gun, he saw a lookin the lad's face that he had never seen there before, and in spite ofthe pain of the situation, he felt a thrill of satisfaction runningthrough his breast at the thought that, young as his nephew was, he wasEnglish to the core. 

"Yes, " said the doctor, "we must fight; but with such odds against us wemust bring cunning to bear. "

"Ay, ay, sir! That's right, " cried Cross. "But perhaps, as we've gotright on our side and only a set of mongrels before us, a good bold dashto board them will make us as strong as they. I say, sir, if you willlet me lead, we will try and take our schooner, give them a broadside ofbullets when we get close up, and then out steel and board her like men. Once over her side, there won't be many of them left on deck at the endof five minutes; and as soon as we have got her and the use of her guns, if we don't sink them other two pirates I have never been to sea. "

"That's right, Joe, " came in chorus, as, standing in the bows with onehand upon his gun, the other upon his right hip, he looked the veryperfection of a British man-of-war's man, ready to lead or be led, wherever duty called. 

Then, as if inspired by his appearance, the crew burst out into aringing cheer, helped by the two lads, while the doctor took off andwaved his straw hat as he joined in. _Bang_--_thud_!

A great grey puff of smoke started from the schooner's deck and a ballcame skipping in their direction over the smooth stream. 

"Well, I do call that too bad, " cried Joe, as the men uttered adeep-toned "Yah-h-h!"

"Arter the way in which I cared for you and kept you clean, to go andbehave like that!"

"Well, poor dumb beast, " growled Briggs, "she don't know no better. "

"Do you call that dumb?" cried Joe, merrily enough. "Well, I s'pose shewas obliged; but I don't think much of their gunnery, messmates, "continued the man, as he made use of the glass again. "Oh, they're allat work, sir, re-loading, and it will soon be our turn. I propose, sir, that we let them give us another shot, and then dash in before they havetime to re-load. They won't hit us; will they, boys?"

"Not they!" came in chorus; but the next moment there was anotherreport, and a smaller ball struck the water so near the boat that thespray was sent flying over them. 

"They've got the two small guns to bear, sir, " said Joe quietly, "andthere's somebody aboard as knows how to aim. "

He had hardly ceased speaking when there was another puff of smoke fromthe schooner's deck, accompanied by a whizzing, shrieking sound throughthe air just above their heads, while before they had glided with thestream another dozen yards there was a puff of smoke from thethree-master's deck, followed directly after by a puff from the strangeschooner, and as the reports of the two heavy guns were echoed from thegreat walls of verdure upon the river's bank, the air over their headsseemed full of shrieking missiles. 

"Grape and broken iron, " growled Joe Cross. "Take the tiller, HarryBriggs. Step the mast, my lads, and run up the sail. Don't take nonotice of their shot. It don't do to go mad, even if we do want tofight. Don't go to sleep over it, boys. We are in the breeze again, and we must run into shelter and think. "

A low growl came from the men as they rapidly obeyed orders, and not aman seemed to flinch as the long gun of the English schooner sent forthits heavy missile again, this time to strike the water some distanceahead and then rise and go crashing amongst the trees, whose leavescould be seen to come pattering down. 

Three more shots came skipping over the river before the boat began toglide swiftly, under the pressure of her sail, and yells of derisioncame ringing from the enemy as they saw the effect of their fire and theeffort being made to escape. 

"Ah!" half sighed Rodd. "They've left off. "

"Ay, sir, " said the coxswain. "They know they can't hit us now we areflying through the water; and the worst of it is, they think we areafraid and that we English dogs are running away as hard as we can, withour tails between our legs. But they aren't, sir; they're a-standing upstiff and at right angles, as our old man calls it, to our backs; eh, messmates?"

"Ay, ay, Joe!" came from the crew, with a roar of laughter. 

"And as for my teeth--our teeth, I mean--they are about as sharp assharp. But we have got the wind with us, gentlemen, and we will justrun up-stream and round the bend yonder, so as to get behind the treesjust somewhere where we can keep watch with that there little spy-glass, and by and by we will have another try. This go they a'n't played fair, but next time we'll make 'em. "

"How, Joe?" cried Rodd. 

"Well, sir, my idea is to tackle 'em man to man when they can't usetheir guns. I mean when it's too dark for them to aim; and then we candrop down upon them, or sail up to them fore or aft or either side, andthem not know where to have us. It won't be shooting then, but coldsteel, as we know how to use. Well, think of that now!" cried the man, as the boat was now literally skimming over the surface. "Call myself aleader! Why, as true as I am here, I never once thought of firing ashot. Why, we might have given them one volley, messmates. I don'tsuppose we should have hit, with them behind the bulwarks, but we mighthave startled the beggars at the guns. Never mind; we have saved ourgunpowder. A man must miss sometimes, and this has been a bad 'un. Next time, though, my lads, we must make it a hit. "

The sailor ceased speaking, for his eyes had suddenly lighted uponMorny's face, and, as he afterwards said to Rodd, "Blest, sir, it sent aregular chill through me, for in all the hooroar of that job I forgotall about his father and our old man. But never say die, sir. They mayhave got away in one of the boats and be coasting along out to sea. "

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. 

FIREWORKS. 

The boat was well run up out of reach and sight of the enemy, a spotbeing selected where by a little manoeuvring beneath the shade of anoverhanging tree a few boughs could be pressed aside and a watch keptupon the movements of those on board the schooners, in case of theirboats coming in pursuit, or, what was quite probable, one or other ofthe vessels heaving anchor and coming up with the tide. 

But the time wore on without any sign being made, and as far as could bemade out through the glass, the Spaniards seemed to be quite contentwith beating off the attack, and from their movements they hadapparently come to the conclusion that they had seen the last of theoccupants of the boat. 

But they did not know the temper of those on board, nor that a quietlittle council of war had been going on, till, feeling the necessity forthe men being properly prepared ready for any fresh attempt, the doctorsuggested that a substantial meal should be made; and this was partakenof with a far better appetite than could have been expected. More thanone plan had been suggested regarding the next proceedings. One wasthat they should steal down the river under cover of the darkness and goin search of their friends; another, that an attempt should be made, when the tide was flowing most swiftly, to cut the cables, in the hopethat the vessels might drift ashore; but Joe Cross disposed of thisdirectly as not likely to be of any permanent advantage, and declaredthat there was only one thing to be done, and that was, to follow upwith another bold attempt to board. 

"You see, gentlemen, " he said, "we never had a chance to get withintouch of the Spanish mongrels. I don't want to brag, but with a fairstart there aren't one of our chaps here as wouldn't take a good grip ofhis cutlass and go for any three of them; eh, messmates?"

"In an or'nary way, Joe, " said Harry Briggs. 

"Well, this is an or'nary way, messmate. "

"Nay; I call this a 'stror'nary one. "

"Well, speak out, messmate, and say what you mean. "

"Well, same as you do, Joe, only I put it a little different. Win orlose, I'd go in for tackling three of them in an or'nary way, but I saysthis is a 'stror'nary one, and you may put me down for six, and if I getthe worst of it, well, that'll be a bit of bad luck. But anyhow I'dtry. "

"And so say all of us, " came from the rest. 

"Well, " said Joe, laughing, "I never knew afore that I was the mostmodest chap in our crew. "

"Oh, I have no doubt about your courage, my lads, " said the doctor, "northat my nephew here, though he is a boy, will fight like a man; but ifwe are to do any good we must work with method against such great odds. So now, Cross, let us hear what you propose to do. "

"Try again, sir--in the dark--and play a bit artful. "

"But how?" cried Rodd eagerly. 

"Well, I'll tell you, Mr Rodd. I proposes that we just show ourselvesonce or twice towards evening, and then make a dash right across theriver to hide again among the trees. That'll set 'em all thinking andasking one another what our game's going to be. Then we will lie uptill it's dark, up with the grapnel, and steal quietly down the river, keeping pretty close to the trees, till we are about opposite the enemy, and then we'll make a mistake. "

"Make a mistake?" said Rodd. "I don't understand you. "

"Well, sir, I aren't done yet. What I mean is, have an accident like;one of us sneeze, or burst out a-coughing, and me break out into aregular passion, calling him as coughed a stoopid lubber and a fool forshowing the enemy where we are. It will be best for me to be him ascoughs or sneezes, and do it all myself so as not to have any muddleover it. Then I shouts out, `Pull for your lives, boys--pull!' And wemakes no end of splashing as we goes on down the river, and all the timeas supposing that it's going to be dark enough so as they can't fire atus. Then it seems to me, Dr Robson, sir, that the enemy will say totheirselves, `They want to get out to sea, and they are gone, ' while assoon as we have got a bit lower down we'll lie up under the trees andwait till about an hour before daylight, and all as quiet and snug as somany rats. They'll think they have got rid of us, and all the while weshall be waiting our time to steal up again right by 'em and begin tocome down once more from where they don't expect; and then--board. "

"Hah!" cried Rodd. "Capital!"

"You see, gentlemen, it'll all have to be done as quiet as quiet, forthey're sure to have a watch set. I know what out-and-outers they areto sleep, but it's too much to expect that they will have both eyes shutat a time like this. One way or t'other we shall have the tide with us, but even if we don't I think it might be managed, and anyhow we shallhave no big guns at work upon us, and watch or no watch we'll manage tolay this 'ere boat alongside of our schooner, and if any one saysanything again' our getting aboard, I should like to know why, and if wedo get aboard I don't think it's in the schooner's new crew to drive usback again into the boat. There, gentlemen, that's all I know, and ifsome one else--the doctor here, or Mr Rodd, or Mr Morny, who is aFrench naval officer--can give us a better way, I'll follow anywhere, and I know the lads will come after me like men. "

There was silence for about a minute, and then the doctor coughed, drawing all eyes upon him. 

"There is no better way, " he said. "It's a splendid plan. "

A murmur of assent arose, and Joe Cross looked quite modest. 

"But it will be some time yet before we can make our attempt, " said thedoctor; "and how are we to pass the weary time till then?"

"Oh, " said Joe cheerily, "we can watch these 'ere great smiling eftstill then. They seem to be sailing about and watching us as if they'dgot some sort of an idea that they were to have us to eat by and by, which I don't mean that they shall. And then there'll be making thefalse starts. I think, sir, as we'll make one or two, as if we was halfafraid to make a dash for it, and that'll draw their fire. "

"But suppose they hit us, Joe, " cried Rodd. 

"Oh, we must chance that, sir. They can't hit us. They couldn't hit ahay-stack in a ten-acre field; let alone a boat being pulled hard acrossstream. That'll be all right. "

And so it proved when Joe Cross put his tactics into force, making themen row out into the river, and then ordering them to lie on their oars, while Rodd watched the schooner's decks and announced that some of themen were busy about the guns and all crowding to the bulwarks to watchthe proceedings of the boat. 

Then a feint was made in one direction, then in another, and at last Joestood up in the stern, to begin gesticulating to the men, as if bullyingthem into making a bold dash to row swiftly down as near the farthershore as they could go. 

A minute later two puffs of smoke from different vessels shot out intothe clear evening air, the balls ricochetting from the water in eachcase a few yards away. Then, with the men pulling as hard as ever theycould, the boat's head was swung round, and rowing diagonally across thestream they made for the shelter of the shore from which they had come, the sail was hoisted, filled, and away they went till they were rightround the bend and the anchored schooners were out of sight. 

"There, Mr Rodd, sir, what did I tell you?" cried Joe triumphantly. "Iknew they couldn't hit us. Chaps like them ought never to be allowed tohandle a gun. "

"Well, my man, " said the doctor, "if the rest of your plan will onlysucceed like this we shall achieve a victory. "

"Nay, nay, sir; only a little boat action. There, my lads, now we'llhave a rest. They're sure to think we have gone right up the river. "

"But they may send boats to follow us, " suggested Rodd. 

"Certainly, sir, they may; but I don't think they will. They won't cometo close quarters so long as they have got bulwarks to fight from behindand the guns to tackle us when we show. They think that we can't facethe pieces. Well, I don't say as we are very ready to when there'sanother way round, but we haven't got long to wait before we must makeanother move, for the sun's down behind the trees, and I shouldn't besorry if it was to come on a fog. "

But no fog came, only darkness the blackest of the black, and the fewstars that peered out only looking strangely dim. 

The wind had fallen soon after the sail had been lowered and the mastlaid well out of their way. One of the balls of spun yarn they had inthe locker had been brought into use, cut into lengths, and the oarssecured so that they could not slip away when they were left to swing, and at last under cover of the night the next part of Joe's programmewas begun. 

It was harder work than had been anticipated, for though the currentclose in shore was slack, it was very difficult to keep at a respectabledistance from the bank as they glided down-stream, while every now andthen there was a swirl in the water suggesting that one of the greatreptiles had been disturbed. 

But still the adventurers progressed, and their leader was keenly on thealert, looking out for the lights of the anchored vessels, ready toraise his false alarm as soon as he got abreast. 

But he looked in vain; the Spaniards had taken the precaution to covertheir riding lights, and Joe Cross was about to draw his bow at aventure, when a sharp shock which made the boat thrill suggested thatthey had struck upon a floating tree trunk, washed probably out of thebank during the past flood. 

But the next moment they were aware that the boat's stem had come incontact with one of the crocodiles, which gave a tremendous plunge andbegan to send the water flying in all directions as it beat heavily uponthe surface with its tail. 

"Starn all!" roared Joe Cross involuntarily, and then recollectinghimself, he roared out, "Pull, lads! Pull for your lives!" For a lightsuddenly appeared some thirty or forty yards to their left, followed byanother lower down the river. 

There was the buzz of voices upon the anchored vessels' decks, and Joekept on yelling wildly to the men to pull, the noise and excitementbeing increased by the reports of muskets fired at them in a hurriedungoverned way, the flashes of light giving them faint instantaneousglimpses of the vessels and the faces of the men on board. 

"Steady, my lads, steady! Ease off, " said Joe, "gently. We have got tocome back again, you know, so we needn't go too far. Two or threecables' lengths is plenty. How do you think we're getting on, sir?"

"Is it possible they may come in pursuit?" whispered the doctor. 

"Nay, sir, I don't think it's likely. If it was us aboard thoseschooners we should think that we--meaning us--there, sir--you know whatI mean--we should think t'other side was making for the sea. Well, that's what they think, and now, sir, if they'll only show their lightsfor the rest of the night, why, so much the better for we. "

"I don't see why, Joe, " said Rodd, after a few minutes' thought. 

"Well, I'll tell you, my lad, " whispered Joe. --"Steady there--steady! Iam going to lower down the grapnel, for I dursen't run in among thetrees. They'd crackle too much if we tried to moor to a branch, and wedon't want to capsize. Harry Briggs, look alive, and drop the flukesoverboard; make fast, and let us swing. "

This was all done almost without a sound, and just then a faint gleam oflight as the boat swung round showed them that certainly one of theanchored vessels was still showing her light, while as it swung round alittle farther there were a couple more gleams higher up, as of distantstars. 

"That's all right, gentlemen. Now, Mr Rodd, sir, I haven't answeredyour question. Here's just enough breeze blowing to make me alter myplans, so after a bit we'll step the mast again and have the sail readyfor hoisting, for we shall be able, with the lights to guide us, to sailclose up under the farther shore and come down again from just the waythey don't expect, run the boat alongside our schooner, and then one onus will hold on by the boat-hook, while with the rest it's all aboard, and the schooner's ours. "

That night seemed to Rodd almost as long, at times longer than the onehe had passed in the tree. But here it certainly was shorter, as heafterwards declared, for about a couple of hours before daylight Joewhispered his belief that they had none of them heard the slightestsound from the direction of the lights, that if any one on board theschooner's deck would be sleeping it would be then, and that they muststart at once. 

There was no question of all being ready, and at the whispered ordersHarry Briggs hauled softly upon the grapnel line, while very slowly andsilently the yard ran up the little mast, and the boat began to careenover as the sail filled. 

Then with Joe Cross at the tiller she began to glide up-stream, thegrapnel was lifted on board without a sound, and silently and steadilythey began to cross the river diagonally till they were as near as thesteersman dared lay the little craft to the farther shore. 

Under his skilful management all went well, and so silently that nothingbut the faint pattering lap of the water against the bows could beheard. 

To the two lads, though, that sounded unusually loud, as they croucheddown involuntarily but quite unnecessarily lower and lower in the boatlest they should be seen, the light hoisted in each schooner seemingbound to show the white sail to the watch of each vessel in turn. 

But no alarm was raised; not a sound reached the adventurers, and toRodd it seemed as if, after terrible periods of agony, three heavy loadshad been lifted from his breast. He wanted to whisper a few words toMorny, who all through had been seated by his side, but nothing but thepressure of hand upon arm passed between them, while they could hardlyhear the doctor breathe. 

At last, though, that period of the terrible suspense was at an end, andthe third light they had passed, that of the _Maid of Salcombe_, wasbeginning to grow fainter, and being left behind. 

"Now, what next?" thought Rodd. "How much longer shall we have to waitbefore the attack is made?"

The answer came very shortly after, for Joe Cross bore lightly upon thetiller, sent the boat gliding round in a wide circle which ended bybringing the three mooring lights they had left behind all in a line, and then as they began to glide down-stream he whispered--

"It's now or never, sir. --Cutlashes, my lads; in five minutes we shallbe alongside. You, Harry Briggs, shy the grapnel on deck and make fast;we shall soon be all aboard. Then come and help us all you can. "

There was a low deep breath like a thrill passing through the boat, apeculiar sound of movement which Rodd knew was the men drawing theircutlasses, and then as his heart went heavily thump, thump, thump withinhis breast, he felt that two hands were seeking for his, and as heraised it towards the right it was grasped firmly a moment by UnclePaul's, and the next moment, as it was released, by that of Morny. 

It was short work, for the boat was gliding steadily down, and directlyafter the lad felt Joe Cross bending over him. 

"She's just right, sir, " he whispered. "Ketch hold of the tiller, andkeep her as she is. I must go for'ard now to lead. "

The boat swayed a little as the man stepped between his mates to thefront. Then as soon as the distance was considered right a lightrattling sound was heard, and Rodd was conscious of the sail beinglowered, though he could see nothing of it, while almost the next minutethere was a faint shock as the boat glided against the side of theschooner. 

Then Joe Cross's cry, "All aboard!" rang out, followed by a stentoriancheer, and amidst the rush and hurry the tiller slipped from the boy'shand and he was climbing over the thwarts to spring into thefore-chains. Then he tottered as if about to fall back into the boat, but a big hand grasped him by the shoulder, steadied him for a moment, and then he was with the little party dashing side by side into whatseemed to be a chaos of savage yells and shrieks which rose in wildconfusion from the gang of Spaniards who had sprung up from their sleep, where they lay scattered about the deck. 

English shouts to come on, Spanish yells, wild mongrel cries, a shriekor two of despair, a heavy plunge followed by another and another, savage blows, and utterances such as fierce men make in the wildculmination of their rage; then plunge after plunge in the wateralongside and astern, the splash of swimmers, strange lashings about inthe river, followed by shrieks and gurgling cries, and then, heard overall, the combined voices of so many stout Englishmen in a fierce--

"_Hurrah_!"

"Now then, all of you, " shouted Joe Cross. "There's a lot of them downbelow. Close that cabin hatch. Two on you to the fo'c'sle; serve thatthe same. If you run against anybody in the dark, tell the beggar he'llbe safer overboard than here. "

But there proved to be no one below in the men's quarters, and aftermaking quite sure the two men returned to their comrades. Then--

"Where's Mr Rodd?" shouted Joe. 

"Here, Joe, " came out of the darkness. 

"Mr Morny?"

"I'm here, " came in a breathless voice. 

"And the doctor?"

"Helpless, Joe. My ankle's sprained. "

"Bad luck to it, " cried the man. "Where's Harry Briggs?"

"All right, mate, " came in a gruff surly voice; "but you needn't havebeen in such a hurry to get it done. "

"Hurry?" cried Joe. "Why, it's only just in time. Later than wethought. It's getting light. Now then, who else is hurt?"

There was a growl or two, and Joe shouted again--

"Is any one killed? Bah! Won't say so if he is! What about that boat, Harry?"

"She's fast enough, messmate. "

"Hah! That's right. Now then, hold hard a moment. Hear 'em aboard theother boats?"

The question was unnecessary, for shouts and yells for help wereevidently rising from men who had swum down-stream to the sides of theirconsorts, and ceased as they were dragged on board. But a low buzzingmurmur kept on, as from a couple of wildly-excited crowds. 

Then a sharp shrill voice began giving orders in Spanish, one beingfollowed up with a pistol shot, which was succeeded by a yell and apartial cessation of the buzz of excitement that sounded as if comingfrom a swarm of human hornets. 

"That was the Spanish captain's voice, I am sure, " cried Rodd. 

"Eight, sir, " shouted Joe. "I'd swear to it. Well, he's getting partof his dose. Oh, if it wasn't so dark! Big gun's crew!" he cried. "Isthe tackle with her?"

"Ay, ay!" came in answer, after a short bustle of movement, in whichtrained men took their places. 

"Here, run the rammer down her throat, my lads. She may be loaded. "

There was the sound of the stout ash staff passing down the bore of thegun, and the answer came--

"Right!"

"Good, " replied Joe. "Lower down that light. We must use that--if wefire. But we want fresh charges, and there will be no more here. "

There was a quick search made, but without result, and Joe Cross stoodsilent for a few moments. 

"Well, " cried the doctor, "why don't you send below, to the magazine?"

"Cabin hatch is closed, sir, and some of the slavers are below. Thisway, my lads--cutlashes. We must have them out. "

"Of course!" cried Rodd excitedly, and Morny uttered a suppressed hiss, as he pressed forward, sword in hand. 

"Yes, gentlemen, " said Joe; "it's their doing, and they must chance thecrocs, for we must clear the vessel before it's broad day. "

At that moment there was a crashing sound as if the cabin hatch wasbeing forced open, and as Joe Cross, followed by the rest, dashed aft, there was a yell, a rush, and some eight or ten of the mongrel enemyforced their way on deck, to be met at once by the schooner's crew, whocharged at them as men-of-war's men know how to charge. 

There was a short encounter, the clash of steel against steel, and thefresh-comers who had taken refuge below began to give way, and in acouple of minutes more the deck was once more cleared, the splashing andplunging of swimming men making for the rapidly dimming light of thenext schooner being followed by more blood-curdling yells and groans, mingled with cries for help, while a few minutes later a boat could befaintly seen and efforts were evidently being made to drag the swimmerson board. 

"Now then for the gun!" cried Joe. 

"What are you going to do?" asked Rodd, who with Morny kept close to thecoxswain's side. 

"Fight, sir, " replied Cross fiercely, "before they begin to fight us. See to the other guns, my lads. The way's open to the magazine now. It'll be light directly, and that Spanish skipper won't leave us longbefore he begins. --There, what did I say?"

For all at once the meaning of the Spaniards' orders, enforced by apistol shot, was explained by a bright flash, the roar of a heavy gun, and the whistle of a shot just over the speaker's head. 

A dead silence now fell for a few moments upon the deck of the _Maid ofSalcombe_. There was a little bustle of preparation, and then a periodof waiting, during which Joe Cross carefully sighted the loaded gun, depressing her muzzle all he could, the two lads the while listeningexcitedly to the stir and orders which came from the Spanishthree-master's deck. 

"Oh, fire, Joe--fire!" whispered Rodd. "We shall have another shot fromher directly. "

"Yes, my lad, I know; but I want to make sure of a little morelight. --_Fire_!" he said, directly afterwards. 

A spark was seen to sink at once upon the touch-hole of the long gun, there was a deep roar as she seemed to leap from the deck, a heavyinstantaneous crash, and then a return shot which went wide of theirschooner. 

"You've hit, Joe, " cried Rodd excitedly, as he stood amidst the smoke, which began to spread about where they gathered. 

"Yes, sir, I hit, " said the man, with a half-laugh, as the crew of thegun busied themselves sponging out and preparing to re-load. "Theypretty well filled her to the muzzle, but they got what they meant forus. But hallo! what's the meaning of this 'ere? What's the matter withus now?"

Only this, that the _Maid of Salcombe_ was adrift and threatening, ifsomething were not done to bring her up, to drift ashore not far fromwhere the faint morning light revealed the brig lying right over on herside as helpless as any hulk. 

Joe Cross, closely followed by the lads, ran forward to the bows, Roddone side, Joe and Morny the other. 

"Why, the cable must have broke adrift, " cried the coxswain, leaningover, to see that the great rope was hanging down straight from thestarboard hawse-hole. 

"Cut, Joe, cut, " shouted Rodd. "Quick! Look out!" For as he hadleaned over the bulwarks just above the larboard hawse-hole, a greatswarthy mulatto, knife in hand, was climbing up, and as soon as hecaught sight of the lad he made for him at once. 

Rodd stood upon his guard and managed to strike aside the thrust made athim by the mulatto; but the latter was lithe and active as a monkey. Hestruck at the boy again, and as Rodd gave way the fellow threw himselfon to the rail and sprang over, but only to be cut down by Joe Cross, who had answered the boy's call. 

It was the saving of Rodd's life, but the mulatto was dangerous still, and recovering himself he made a dash at Morny, who stepped aside, while, with all the ferociousness of a Malay running amok, the mansprang aft, avoided two or three cuts made at him by the sailors, andthen plunged over the side, to begin swimming towards the three-master, which was in the act of sending another shot at the doctor's vessel. 

This one crashed through the bulwarks, sending the splinters flying inall directions, and making the coxswain shout to his men to stand firm, as, seeing their perilous position, he hurried to their help, for thebig schooner had slipped her cable, a sail had been run up, and she wasbeginning to answer her helm, while the _Maid of Salcombe_ was driftinghelplessly towards the shore. 

It was a choice between hoisting sail and letting go another anchorwhile the chance was there, as the two vessels forged slowly aheadpreparing to send in another shot. 

This latter in his excitement Joe Cross essayed to do, striking theirenemy just at the water-line as she passed them, while now the slaver'ssister craft began firing as she too, hoisting sail, was comingup-stream. 

"Ah!" panted the sailor, as he turned to Uncle Paul. "Here's yourpeaceful schooner, sir, as trades in palm-oil! Why, they are piratesand slavers, sir, and I've done it now. Too late, my lads--too late!"he cried to the men, who had let go the other anchor. "Nothing can saveus now. We are going ashore. "

"Oh, don't give up, man, " cried the doctor angrily. 

"I won't, sir. None of us will; but--There, I said as much. We justtouched bottom then. There she goes again! And in another minute weshall be fast in the mud, and they'll have nothing to do but powder awayat us till we are a wreck. Slew that there gun round, boys, and let'sgive her another shot or two while there's a chance. "

"No, no, " cried Rodd. "Not at that! Fire at the other. Can't you see, Joe? Uncle! Morny! The three-master's going down!"

It was quite true, for the first shot from the _Maid of Salcombe_, thatsent from the long gun, crammed as Joe had said almost to the muzzle, had torn into the slaver just below water-line. The second had beenjust as effective in its aim, the water had been pouring in ever since, and now, as she was evidently settling down by the head, her guns wereforsaken, all discipline was at an end, and her crew had made a rush forthe boats, which were soon after overcrowded and being pushed off bytheir occupants to make for the third schooner. This last, fairly wellmanaged, came slowly on, firing from time to time at the English craft, which, had now swung round upon her heel and lay bowsprit to the shorein a falling tide. 

As far as was possible her guns were slewed round, and a steady reply tothe enemy's fire was kept up; but her doom seemed to be sealed, theSpaniard being able to choose her own position, while minute by minutethe English vessel was getting more helpless. 

"Well, gentlemen, what's it to be?" said Joe, as he stood coolly wipingthe blackened perspiration from his forehead. 

"Keep on firing to the last, " said the doctor sternly. "Better die likemen than surrender and be murdered, for after what has passed there canbe no mercy here. "

"That's right, sir, " said the man, "but there's the young gentlemen, andwe don't any of us want to die if we can help it. "

"Why, you are not beaten, are you, Joe?" cried Rodd fiercely. 

"Not a bit of it, sir, but here's our schooner, and there's Mr Morny'sbrig. It's no use to make an ugly face over a nasty dose. We arebeaten, and nothing that we could do could keep that slaver from seeingthat she's won. "

"Go on firing, and sink her, " cried Rodd. "Look at the other one, " andhe pointed to the three-master, whose decks looked as if they wereawash. 

"Well, sir, that's what we have been trying to do; but she won't sink. How so be, here goes, my lad, for another try, and--What's the meaningof that?"

For all at once through the smoke that rose from the schooner they couldsee that something fresh had taken place--what, they could not make out, but it was something important, and one of the enemy's smaller guns wasfired in the other direction. 

"Why, there must be help coming from down the river, " cried the doctorexcitedly. "Yes, hark at that!"

For in reply to the schooner's gun a desultory series of musket shotsbegan to ring out, and encouraged by this and the knowledge that helpmust be at hand, the little English crew sent forth a cheer, dragged thelong gun more and more round, and sent one of the most successful shotsthey had fired crash into the enemy's stern. 

To the astonishment of all, the firing on board the enemy ceased;another sail was run up, and as it filled the schooner swung round uponanother tack and began to sail steadily down the river, clearing the wayfor those on board the English vessel to see a couple of well-mannedboats being rowed steadily up-stream, with men in the stern-sheetskeeping up a musketry fire. 

"Quick!" shouted Moray. "Another shot! Friends! Friends!"

"Yes, sir, " said Joe quietly, "but I don't see how it's to be done. Yes, we might do it from a little gun;" and he ran with a part of thecrew to try and slew her round. 

"No good, gentlemen, " he said. "By the time we can get a shot off weshall risk hitting those boats, whatever they are, and they are comingto our help. Here, hasn't anybody got a glass?"

"No, " cried Rodd; "it was left in the boat. "

"Well, there's one in the cabin. Here, one of you run down. "

"No, no, " cried Morny excitedly; "they're our boats. Look! That's myfather in one, " he cried hysterically. 

"And if that aren't our old man in the other my name aren't Joe Cross!"

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. 

THE HELP THAT CAME. 

In those brief few minutes despair and dogged determination were turnedinto the mingled emotions of triumph and delight, for the two boats, after giving two or three volleys at the schooner, whose crew contentedthemselves with hoisting a couple more sails to increase their speed, came on as hard as the men could row, their crews cheering in French andEnglish with all their might, while in the stern of one the Count stoodup waving his cap; in that of the other Captain Chubb, looking grim andstern, stood like a statue, his left foot on the thwart before him, hisright resting upon the muzzle of a musket. 

"Here, I don't feel as if I'd got a cheer left in me, lads, " cried JoeCross to his tired companions on board the stranded schooner; "but wemust give them one, or they'll think we aren't much obliged to them forcoming, and there's no gammon about it, we are, and no mistake. "

"Cheer, yes!" cried Rodd. "With all your might, my lads. Take yourtime from me. Now then, as you never cheered before--Hooray!"

There was no want of heartiness either in that or in those whichfollowed, to be returned as enthusiastically from the two boats, whichwere rapidly nearing, so that in a few minutes Rodd and his uncle werewringing the hands of the bluff old skipper, while it was observablethat all three kept their backs to the French Count and his son tillthey came up together, when the three started round in surprise, goingthrough a curious kind of pantomime as if they were astonished to seethe Frenchmen there. 

Meanwhile a regular fraternisation had gone on between the crews, andafter a mere glance at the three masts of the schooner, which werestanding out of the water about a couple of hundred yards away, theskipper's whole attention was directed to their own vessel, whose keelwas now fast in the mud, and which was beginning to heel over slightly. 

"Then I suppose you took her again, doctor?" he said gruffly. 

"Well, hardly, " said Uncle Paul. "It was Cross and the lads who didthat. "

"More shame to him, then, " growled the skipper. "I should have thoughtyou were seaman enough, Joe Cross, to have kept her afloat and not runher aground like this. "

"Well, I do call that ungrateful, " cried Rodd. "I say, uncle, oughtn'the to have saved the schooner from being taken?"

"That's one for me, doctor, " said the skipper, with a grim smile and atwinkle in his eye. "The boys of this here generation seem to grow uppretty sharp. But he's quite right. They pretty well caught a weaselasleep that time. "

"But how was it?" cried Rodd. 

"How was it, my lad? Why, we was hard at work one morning, when up theriver comes another of them nice respectable schooners in the oil trade. Oil trade, indeed! Rank slavers, that's what they were, carrying ontrade with one of those murderous chiefs up country! Set of blackSatans as attack villages and carry off the poor wretches to sell toyour oil traders for sending off to the plantations. Well, one don'tlike killing fellow-creatures, or seeing them pulled down below by thecrocs, but somehow I don't feel so very uncomfortable about them as wehad to fight with and have got the worst of it. What are you smilingat, young Squire Rodd?"

"I was only thinking how you always hated the slave trade, captain. "

"Right, " said Captain Chubb, with a friendly nod. "Well, the schoonersends her skipper aboard the three-master. Then he comes to where I wasbusy at work with the men, putting the finishing touches to the brig, and tells me and the Count a long tale about his having come up to joinhis friend the Spanish captain, who he hears has gone up the river for arow. Then he goes back to his schooner, makes her snug, and it seemedas if him and his men had all gone to sleep, when it was me. "

"You?" cried Rodd wonderingly. 

"Well, what they call metyphorically, my boy, for I was wide awakeenough; but I couldn't see anything beyond the _Dagobert_, nor the Countneither, for he wanted her afloat. Then the time went on, and all veryquiet, till just in the middle of one of the hottest days when I was infull feather, thinking that I could tell the Count that night that thejob was done, and we could let her sit the water again next day when thetide served, all at once we had a surprise. There were only four orfive men aboard the schooner, and I suppose they were keeping theirwatch, but just all at once a couple of boats rowed up to them, one fromone schooner, one from the other, and before any of us knew what was up, our fellows were swimming for the shore, and if it hadn't been for theCount, who was on the look-out for crocs, and let them have two barrelstwice over, neither of the poor fellows would have joined their mates ashad been working with me. "

The speaker turned to the Count, who nodded his head quickly, and thenlooked at his son as much as to say, Yes, this is quite true. 

"Well, " continued the skipper, "I felt as if all the wind had beenknocked out of me, and as soon as I could speak and quite understandthat my schooner had been took, I began to bully-rag the poor lads whohad just escaped with their lives, for, not having time to get a gun ora cutlass, they had been almost as helpless on board as they were in thewater among them reptiles. I couldn't even believe it then, and beganquestioning the lads, and you might have knocked me down with a feather, as people say, and the Count there with another, when they all sworethat our Spanish skipper had led the men from his three-master in one ofthe boats. Then we began to see the worst. "

The skipper turned with a questioning look at the Count again, toreceive a second grave nod, while this time the latter laid his handupon his son's shoulder, and a long eager glance passed between them. 

"Well, I don't know that I have much more to say, " said the skipper, "only that it was a bad job, being a fresh one we had got to tackle andmeant to do. The Count here fitted me and my lads up with some weepuns, and we settled that as soon as it was dark we'd man two of the brig'sboats, and board first one and then the other of the two schooners. Well, we tried, but they were waiting for us, and I don't know how weescaped, for they met us with such a fire that if we had kept on bothboats must have been sunk, and we never got within touch of either ofthe enemy, but drifted down with the tide; and somehow just then Isuppose there must have been a flood somewhere up the river, down camethe water in a way that we couldn't meet, and it was only by pretty goodseamanship on the part of the Frenchmen more than ours, though we helpedall we knew, that we were able to keep afloat; and since then we havebeen right down to the sea, and it's been very hard to get enough toeat. But somehow we managed to keep alive, shooting what we could andcatching a fish or two now and then as we came up the river again. Forof course we were not going to give up without finishing our job; and itseems to me that we got here just at the right time, and found thatthings weren't half so bad as we thought; eh, Count?"

"My friend, " replied the latter, "how can I ever repay you?"

"Oh, let's talk about that, sir, when I have done something to keep the_Maid of Salcombe_ upright and finished my other job and the brig'safloat, which it seems to me we can manage at high water; but I neverbargained for having our schooner to set right too through the lubberlymanagement of that chap Joe Cross. There, " he cried angrily, "I can'tand won't say another word till I have had something to eat, for we areall half starved. "

"Get on board the schooner, then, every one, " cried the doctor, "for Ihave got my work here. "

It was a fact, for now the fight was over the men began to stiffen, andseveral unexpectedly turned faint, it proving that though not a singleman was seriously wounded, nearly every one of those who had followedJoe Cross in his gallant achievement of boarding the schooner, and inbeating down the slaver's crew when they forced their way out of thecabin, was more or less injured and had been doing his best to hide theknife stabs and contusions he had received. 

It was during the next two or three days that the doctor proved that hewas in his element, and that his knowledge of natural history was notconfined to his ordinary scientific pursuits, for no surgeon could havebeen more skilful in his treatment of wounds, no physician more able inalleviating the fever which supervened. 

It was a busy time for all, for not only was there the grounded schoonerto guard from going over, but strict watch to keep for the return ofenemies, and then, when the high tide served, all hands were at work, save the poor disappointed fellows whose injuries kept them to theirbunks, in raising the brig to her old proud position. As she floatedout, herself once more, and dropped anchor in the stream, the menliterally yelled themselves hoarse, while on the following day at theCount's request both vessels were dropping down with the tide, all onboard eager to leave behind the river, which in spite of its manybeauties was too full of painful recollections for its waters to berecalled without horror and disgust. 

CHAPTER FORTY NINE. 

THE COUNT'S APPEAL. 

The south-west coast of Africa was fading away in the distance as thetwo consorts with their natural history seekers rode over the dazzlingsilver sea. The lads were abaft the schooner's wheel, quite inseparablenow, looking down through the eddying water at the fish, which seemed tohave taken the swift vessel for some mighty companion of their ownnature, in whose wake they could swim along in peace without fear oflesser enemies. 

About an hour before, the brig's gig had brought the Count and his sonalongside the schooner, and the former was below in the doctor'smuseum-like laboratory, listening to his learned friend's remarks uponsome fresh object that, now they had returned to the ways of peace, hadbeen fished up from just below the surface of the sea. 

Four of the schooner's crew were under an awning, lying upon a couple ofdoubled-up spare sails which had been spread upon the deck, and the twolads had been seated with them chatting for some little time before theystrolled aft. 

"How well your men look, " Morny said suddenly--"all except Joe Cross. "

"Yes, he looks rather thin and pale, doesn't he?" said Rodd quickly;"but he isn't ill. You saw how full of fun he was, and ready to jokeabout having been bled too much. Uncle says he'll soon be well again, for he's in such good spirits. But uncle told me quietly that it was awonder to him none of the poor fellows were killed. But oh, I say, isn't this nice!"

"Lazy, " said Morny. 

"Oh, I don't call it lazy. It's so jolly to be able to hang about inthe sunshine without feeling that there's some great trouble coming ondirectly. "

"Ah, yes, " replied Morny, with a sigh, "and that perhaps you may notlive to see me next day. "

"Well, " said Rodd, "I don't think it's lazy. Uncle says that after youhave been at work very hard it's like unstringing the bow; and so it is. I want to begin fishing or dredging or sounding again. I don't wantany more shooting. Now, do you know what I should like just now?"

"No. "

"I'd soon show you then that I wasn't lazy. I should like to see one ofthose beautiful ripples two or three hundred yards off which showthat there's a shoal of fish feeding on the transparentwhat-you-may-call-'ems--I forget Uncle Paul's name for them. "

"Well, if that would give you any satisfaction, " said Morny, laughing, "I wish that a shoal would rise. "

"Don't you be in such a hurry; I hadn't finished. I was going to say Ishould then like to see one of those great sea-serpent-like creaturesrise slowly from below, to begin feeding on the fish--one of those greatscientific wonders that you and your father are trying to discover andcapture; for that's it, I suppose, though you do keep so squat aboutit. "

"Ah-h-h!" said Morny, with a sigh; and he glanced sidewise at his youngEnglish companion. 

"It is quite a joke, that it is, " continued Rodd. "It's just as if youwere jealous and afraid that uncle and I would get beforehand with you, and win the credit of the discovery for old England, instead of youcarrying it off for your _la belle France_. "

"Ah!" sighed Morny again, with a sad smile upon his lips. 

"You French chaps are so sentimental. _La belle France_ indeed! Justas if old England or the British Isles weren't quite as beautiful! Onlywe don't go shouting about it everywhere. I say, Morny, you don't halfbelieve in me. "

"It is false!" cried the young Frenchman angrily. "Why, I believe inyou more than in any one living--except my father. "

"Oh, indeed!" cried Rodd banteringly. "And here since I have known youI have told you everything till I haven't a secret that I have kept fromyou. "

"Why, you have had no secrets, " said Morny. 

"Well--no; I suppose you couldn't call them secrets. But you've gotone, and you have never let it out to me. "

"No, " said Morny gravely, "because it was not mine to tell. You don'twant me to be dishonourable, Rodd?"

"Why, of course I don't, old chap. I don't want you to tell me till youlike, only it is rather a joke sometimes that you make such a mystery ofwhat uncle and I know as well as can be. "

"You know!" cried Morny sharply. 

"Why, of course I do. It's what I say. You want--I mean, your fatherdoes--to carry off the honour of having solved the mystery of the greatfish or reptile that has been talked about for the last hundred years. I say, though, there's that other great old-world thing that they findin the rocks. What's his name?"

Morny shook his head. 

"Here, I've got it--the sea-sawyer! That isn't quite right, but itsounds something like it. Why, he must have been just like a greatcrocodile. "

"Ugh! Don't talk about them, " said Morny, with a shudder. 

"Eh, why not? There are none of them here. I wish we could have caughtone to dry or stuff, or keep in spirits. I mean quite a little one, youknow. Ah, those were rather horrid times, though, and I shan't want aspecimen reptile to make me remember them. "

"No, " said Morny musingly; "we want nothing to make us recollect them. "

"But I suppose it is nearly all over now, for our voyages will soon cometo an end. "

"Oh no?" cried Morny eagerly. "Why should they, now that your uncle andmy father have become such friends?"

The lads both started, for those of whom they were speaking just thenstrolled up behind them. 

"Well, boys, " said the Count gravely, "what are you two talking about?"

"Rodd was saying that he supposed our friendship would soon come to anend. "

"Indeed?" cried the Count, raising his eyebrows and turning to give ameaning glance at Uncle Paul. "Why should it, eh, my lad? I thoughtyou and Morny had become such fast friends. "

"Yes, so we have, sir, " cried Rodd, flushing; "but I didn't quite meanthat, for I hope we shall often meet; but I thought that now we are outat sea again we should be separating. The brig will be going one way, and we shall be going another. "

"Do you wish this to be so?" said the Count, after another glance atUncle Paul. 

"I? Oh no, sir. "

"And you, Morny, my son?"

"I, my father? They should not go away if I could stop it. "

"You hear, doctor? Is not this strange after what we have been sayingin the cabin. I tell you again, before long I will be quite open withyou about the object of my voyage. At present I ask you not to pressme. "

"I have told you, " said the doctor, smiling, "that I will not. I havetold you also that my object for the short time that I shall stay downhere in the south is to keep close inshore, while you tell me that youwish to be able to sail right out to sea, and free to carry out yourproject, whatever it may be. "

"Yes, yes, and I have told you too that you could be of the greatestservice to me by following close at hand, and that I should always bemost grateful if without injury to your own cruise you would keep incompany with me for the present. "

"Ready to help in case of further emergencies?"

"No, " cried the Count warmly; "my ideas were not so selfish as that. But tell me this--is it urgent that we should part company now? I mean, would you suffer loss, or would your own researches be injured bykeeping in company with us for say another month?"

"No-o, " said the doctor carelessly; "I am just as likely to makediscoveries far out to sea as close inshore. "

"Then stay with us for the present. I ask it as a friend, while Iguarantee that you shall not suffer by what you do for me. "

"Well, " said the doctor, slowly and thoughtfully, as he looked at thetwo lads, who were intently listening for his words, "what do you think, Rodd? Shall we sail in company with the brig for a little longer?"

"Am I to be judge, uncle?" said the boy merrily. "Yes, if you like. "

"Well, then, " said the lad, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, ashe found that Morny with lips parted was gazing at him with a look ofappeal, "you see, uncle, we have been together a good while now, andthough we tried to help the brig we seem to have dragged it into a gooddeal of mischief. "

"What are you saying, Rodd?" cried Morny passionately. 

"Oh, I mean that we have helped you a bit, but you have been veryunlucky since we have been together. Still, if Morny doesn't mindrisking it, and doesn't mind putting up with my jokes about _la belleFrance_, and yours, uncle, about the Emperor Napoleon--"

Morny started, and looked sharply at his father. 

"--though by this time, " continued Rodd, "I suppose you, sir, have foundout that at heart uncle is very fond of the Emperor, and admires himvery much--"

"You impudent young scoundrel, how dare you!" growled the doctor. "Bah!" he muttered to himself, "Temper!" Then turning quickly to theCount, he said almost apologetically, "Don't take any notice. I havespoilt him, sir; I have spoilt him. Look here, my dear sir; I shallvery much regret the day when we have to part, for my own sake and formy nephew's, for since he has had the advantage of your son'scompanionship I have been in hopes that he would acquire something ofhis refinement and polish, and that it might lead in time to hisachieving to somewhat of the carriage of a gentleman. I regret to saythat so far he is as rough and boorish as ever. Still, in the hope thatevery one of his opportunities may not be thrown away, I shall be gladto prolong the intimacy a little longer. There, sir, " he snapped out, as he turned sharply upon Rodd, "what do you say to that?"

"It's all right, Morny, " said the boy quietly. "Go on polishing. I'llbe more attentive now, uncle. "

Morny gave him a quick nod, and turned then to grasp Uncle Paul's hand, while the brig and the schooner went sailing on westward ho!

CHAPTER FIFTY. 

THE DOCTOR WILL NOT BELIEVE. 

It was about a fortnight later, during which time, in deliciously calmweather, the two vessels had been cruising here and there, to the greatsatisfaction of the doctor, who was in a high state of delight, for hehad been harvesting, as he termed it--bottling, Joe Cross said--numberless specimens of the strange creatures that swarm upon thesurface of the southern Atlantic. And as they had got out so far, thedoctor had been sounding Captain Chubb as to the possibility andadvisability of making for that strange volcanic island known asTrinidad--not the richly verdant island of the same name that seems asif it had been once a portion of the north-east shoulder ofleg-of-mutton-like South America, but the solitary island right awaysouth-east from Bahia, which stands lonely in the ocean, the remains ofthe great volcanic eminence swept by the terrific seas and tempests thatcome up from the South Polar Ocean--an island that is the habitat ofstrange sea-birds, the haunt of fish, and the home and empire of thosemost hideous of the crustaceans, the land crabs. 

Captain Chubb grunted and said he would think about it and consult thechart. As for the brig, Rodd did not banter Morny upon the subject whenhe came aboard, as he did pretty well every day when Rodd and his unclehad not visited the brig; but it was a standing joke between the lad andUncle Paul that King Dagobert had not sighted the sea-serpent as yet. 

"And it's my belief, Pickle, that they are going the wrong way to work. "

"Why, what would you do, then, uncle?"

"Well, I'll tell you, my boy. He's a very shy bird, and if he knows youare looking for him he won't show. If you and I take up the search Itell you what we'll do; we won't look for him; we'll let him look forus. "

"According to that, then, uncle, we are more likely to find him thanthey are. "

"Of course, my boy. Why, haven't we proved it?"

They were down in the laboratory, where Joe Cross had been helping themover the bottling, but he had gone up on deck, the day's task beingover, and the skipper now came down, looked and snorted at the freshregiment of bottles, and made some remark about the doctor seeming outof spirits. But he did not mean it for a joke. Captain Chubb never didjoke, for he was one of those men who pass their lives looking out forsqualls, and his allusion was to the emptiness of the doctor's set ofkegs. 

"Well, it doesn't matter, " said the doctor. "Sit down and let's talk. I have got quite as many preparations in spirits as will last me foryears. By the way, did you think any more about Trinidad?"

"Deal, " said the skipper shortly, and he gave the fixed table a rap witha roll of paper which he had brought down tucked under his arm. "Here'sthe chart. "

"Well?" said the doctor, wincing, as the skipper unrolled the map on thedresser-like table, and catching up first one specimen bottle and thenanother used them as paper-weights to keep the chart flat, while hebegan to operate with his big rough, brown, index finger. 

"Here y'are, " he said, "and its character written about it: currents, shoals, stormy seas, all kinds of dangers. Bad landing-place; veryrocky--place if you go to you ought to stop away. "

"Sounds hopeful; eh, Pickle?"

"Oh, but curious, uncle. I should like to go. "

"Well, then, you won't, " said the skipper gruffly, "because your uncle'stoo wise to tell me to risk the schooner in such a sea. "

"Humph!" grunted the doctor. 

"I'll obey your orders, sir, and sail anywhere, " continued the skipper, frowning very heavily, "but it's my duty to tell you when you are goingwrong. "

"Of course, " said the doctor, "and as you give the place such a badcharacter, captain, we'll disappoint Rodd and stay away. "

"Right, " cried the skipper. Then after drawing a deep breath he lookedfiercely at Rodd, and then glared at the doctor, who opened his eyes alittle, wonderingly. 

"Do you know where you are now?" said the skipper. 

"Well, not exactly, only that we have been on ground rich in objectssuch as I wish to collect, and--excuse me, captain--that bottle--yourelbow. I wouldn't have an accident to that for the world. "

"Well, then, " continued the skipper, very gruffly, as he dabbed his bigfinger down in the middle of the chart, "you are here. "

"Saint Helena, " said Rodd, after a quick glance at the chart. 

"Right, " grunted the skipper. "Now, Dr Robson, am I to speak out, orwill you send young Mr Rodd here up on deck first?"

The doctor stared. 

"I see no reason for sending my nephew away, " he said coldly. "He and Ihave the fullest confidence in one another. "

Rodd, who was standing leaning over the map, moved very slightly, butsomehow his left hand stole on to his uncle's shoulder. 

"Right, then, " said the skipper harshly. "It is my duty, Dr Robson, totell you that you are in a false position. "

"Then, Captain Chubb, as my navigator in whom I have the most perfecttrust, it is my duty to tell you that you ought to be on deck sailing usout of it as soon as you can. "

"Come down here on purpose, " said the skipper shortly, "and here goes. Now then, doctor, you are such a busy man, and you are so wrapped up inyour fads about natural history and that sort of thing, that anybodyartful could take you in and cheat you as easy as swallowing agooseberry. "

"Well, you have a nice opinion of me, Captain Chubb!"

"I have, sir--a splendid opinion of you, " cried the skipper, "and I'dsay it before all the judges in the land--I mean at home--that there wasnever a more straightforward gentleman made than you. I'd do anythingfor you. "

"Hear, hear! Bravo, Captain Chubb!" cried Rodd. "What about me?"

"You, youngster? Well, you aren't half a bad 'un as boys go. But lookhere, doctor; time's come for me to speak out. You are a bit tooinnocent. "

"Am I? Well, captain, that's better than being a bit too guilty; eh, Rodd?"

"A deal, uncle. But what's the matter, captain?"

"Why, this here, my lad. I can't stand still no longer and see youruncle being made a cat's-paw of. "

"Cat's-paw, eh, captain?" said the doctor. "Let's see, that means tofetch the roasted chestnuts out of the fire. This must apply to you, Master Rodd. "

"To me, uncle?" cried the boy, aghast. 

"Yes; I don't know anybody else whom Captain Chubb looks upon as amonkey. "

"Nay-y-y! I mean that there French Count. "

"Stop!" cried the doctor sternly. "Mind what you are saying, CaptainChubb. Count Des Saix is my friend--a gentleman, a nobleman. "

"I dessay he may be at home, " said the skipper, meeting Rodd's indignanteyes, "but he aren't a gentleman, or he wouldn't be making such a toolof you. Now, don't you put yourself in a fury, doctor, or you'll besaying words you'll be sorry for arter. A gentleman like you as thinks, and is scientific too, has no business to go in a passion. That's allvery well for a skipper as has got to manage a lot of awkward sailorchaps; if he didn't use words sometimes there'd be no getting a shipalong. But you have got to take it cool like a Ann Eliza, and hear itright through, and then set yourself down and judge according. "

"But look here, Captain Chubb, " said the doctor angrily, "I cannot besilent and let you malign my friend. "

"He aren't your friend, sir; he's only a Frenchman, and though I've donemy duty by him right through, I allers felt as if I couldn't trust him. "

"Why not?" said the doctor hotly. 

"Because he being a natural born enemy of an Englishman, it didn't seemright that he should pretend to be such a friend of yourn. "

"Why not, sir?" cried the doctor warmly. 

"Now, none of that, doctor. I did warn you about not getting put out. Don't you call me, _sir_, 'cause I don't like it. "

"Look here, Captain Chubb, " cried the doctor, "I am sure you mean well. "

"Thankye, sir; I do. "

"Then why have you taken this prejudice against the Count?"

"That's a straight question, sir. Now let me ask you one. What's hedoing here?"

"Upon some kind of research. "

"Not him, sir! That's what he's told you, and it aren't honest. He'scarrying on a game of his own behind you; and the boy's as bad as theold man. "

"How dare you!" flashed out Rodd. 

"Silence, Rodney!"

"I can't be silent, uncle. I won't stand here and listen to such anoutrageous charge against those two gentlemen. I don't know what hascome to Captain Chubb, but he ought to be made to apologise before heleaves this place. "

"Well, he aren't going to be made to, young pepper-caster, " growled thecaptain. "Honest men don't apologise for telling the truth, even if itdon't taste nice. "

"Look here, Chubb, " said the doctor, "we are having too many words. Let's have a clear understanding about what you think. "

"Right, sir. Let's get to the bottom of it at once. You want anexplanation. It's this now. I have been very suspicious from thefirst. What about this 'ere Count and his son? First you knowed of 'emwas as they was prisoners at Dartmoor. Well, it sounds bad for a man tobe a prisoner, but as he was took in war that don't count for much, sowe'll let that go. Next thing is, you runs agen 'em at Havre, cuttingtheir cable and running for it when Government gives orders for them tostop. Next thing is, they boards our schooner like a set of pirates, only we seem too many for them; and then they cackles up a cock-and-bullstory about wanting help, when they see they couldn't seize theschooner. "

"Look here, Captain Chubb--" began the doctor. 

"Give me my chance, sir, and let me finish, and then have your say. Help they had, and plenty on it, and I will say that a nicer, moregentlemanly-tongued chap than the Count I never met, nor had to do witha pleasanter nor nicer young fellow than his son. "

"Thank you, " said Rodd sarcastically. 

"Now, don't you sneer, youngster, " growled the captain, "for it aren'tclever, nor it aren't nice. Well, now, doctor, we all went through adeal all along of these Frenchies, for I don't see how it could havehappened if it hadn't been for them. "

"Why, you took us up the river, captain, " cried Rodd indignantly. 

"That's true, sir, but it was to do the best for their leaky brig, and Imade her as good a craft as ever she was; so you needn't chuck that inmy teeth. "

"Be silent, Rodney, and let the captain speak. "

Rodd gave himself a snatch and clenched his fists. 

"Well, sir, to make a long story short, the Count gammoned you intokeeping company with him, and brought you here--here, of all places inthe world--here, to Saint Helena, " and he thumped the chart just wherethe island was marked. 

"Yes, " said the doctor thoughtfully--"here, to the neighbourhood ofSaint Helena; upon a scientific research. "

"Scientific research!" growled the skipper scornfully. "Look here, sir, don't you be so innocent. You make me wild. What's this 'ere Count? AFrenchman, aren't he?"

"Well, plenty of clever Frenchmen have followed science, " said thedoctor indignantly. 

"Chinese too, sir, though they can't dress like Christians, " cried theskipper. "But just you tell me this 'ere, sir; who lives at SaintHelena? Don't old Bony? Him as we shut up like the warlike lunatic heis, to keep him out of mischief?"

"Well, yes, " said the doctor, much more suavely; "there is something inthat. "

"I should think there is, sir! Haven't I heard you carry on dozens oftimes about what a bad 'un he's been to the whole world?"

"Yes, yes, Chubb; I certainly do entertain strong feelings against thattyrant and usurper. "

"You do, sir. I've heard you say things at times as have soundedred-hot. "

"And I'm not ashamed of them, Captain Chubb, " cried the doctor warmly. 

"'Shamed on 'em! Not you, sir! They're a honour to you as an Englishgentleman. Not much of the innocent in you about that. "

"Thank you, Captain Chubb; thank you, " said the doctor. 

"Oh, uncle!" cried Rodd, between his teeth. 

"You let your uncle alone, youngster; I aren't done with him yet. Nowthen, doctor, your eyes aren't quite open now, but you are beginning topeep. Now, just have the goodness to tell me what you are a-doing hereat Saint Helena--a place that a gentleman with your sentiments ought tohave kept clear of like pison. "

"Well, " cried the doctor, warming up again, "you know I have accompaniedmy friend the Count upon his scientific expedition. "

"Your friend the Count, sir! His scientific expedition!" snarled theskipper. "Do you call old Bony a scientific expedition?"

"I don't understand you, captain. "

"Then here you have it, sir, plain. Your friend the Count is a Bonyparty, and as the French Government knew what game he was on and triedto stop him from running out of Havre, when he come upon us and foundout what we were doing, `Here's my man, ' he says; `I will just creepunder his cloak and carry on my little game to carry off Bony. No onewill suspect me if I am in good company, and on what he calls scientificresearch. ' Consekens, here's you, sir, off the island of Saint Helenain co and company with this 'ere Bony party come to carry off and setfree the man of all others you hate most in the world. Now youunderstand what you have come to do. "

"I'll be hanged if I have!" cried the doctor, bringing his fist downwith a tremendous thump upon the table, making one of the bottles leapup, fall over upon its side, and discharge its stopper at Rodd, whofielded it cleverly, though the contents--gelatinous infusoria andspirit of wine--were scattered all over the map. 

"That's spoke like you, sir, " cried the skipper; "but you needn't havespoiled my chart. "

"Confound your chart, man! Here, Rodney, you hear all this? Do youthink it's true?"

"No, uncle, I can't. "

"Neither can I, sir. I cannot. I will not. You, Captain Chubb, youmean well, I know, but--Oh, it's outrageous! That I, Paul Robson, a manof my sentiments, should come to do such a disloyal thing as this--this--this--this treachery against my country and my King! Here, Captain Chubb, are you mad, or--"

"Drunk, sir? Say it out. I don't mind. It does me good to see youcome to your senses like this. Brayvo, sir! That's the way to takeit. "

"Oh, uncle!" panted Rodd. 

"You let him alone, sir. He's all right, " cried the skipper. "I'vestuck the harpoon into him. You give him line, and you'll see we shallhave him in his flurry directly. "

"Stop, man! Where are your proofs?"

"Yes, " cried Rodd, stamping excitedly about the cabin; "where are yourproofs?"

"Proofs?" said the skipper. "I d'know. Yes, I do. You ask the Countto his face, and his boy with him, whether what I say aren't true. "

"Yes, " cried the doctor. "Go on deck, and take that confounded speakingtrumpet of yours. Hail the brig, and ask the Count to come on board. "

"Yes--with his son!" stormed Rodd. "How can I? They went off thisafternoon on some game or another, and haven't been in sight since. "

"Hah!" said the doctor, fanning himself with one hand, wiping his facewith the other, and then shaking his bandanna silk handkerchief up anddown to try and get cool. "There, I am not going to be in a passion, Rodney. I am not going to say angry words to you, Chubb, for youbelieve all this, while I--I--I can't believe it. The Count is toogrand a gentleman to have made a--a--what you said, of me. But I willhave this matter cleared up, and you will have to apologise to me andthe Count. "

"And to Viscount Morny des Saix, " cried Rodd. 

"Yes, my boy; exactly, " said the doctor; and then to the skipper--"Ifyou are wrong!"

Saying this, he literally stamped out of the cabin. 

"Where are you going, uncle?" cried Rodd, following. 

"Up on deck, my boy, " cried the doctor, without turning his head. "Ifeel like a furnace, and if I speak any more words they'll be like theskipper said--red-hot. "

"Well, " said the captain, as he stood staring towards the cabin stairs, "I never see'd the doctor with his monkey up like that afore. Anyhow, he aren't afraid to trust me with his bag of tricks down here, andbottles of mixture. But he needn't have spoiled my chart!"

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. 

THAT'S SAINT HELENA. 

Night, and no sign of the brig. Morning, and the doctor and his nephewboth on deck, with a sail in sight upon the distant horizon, while justbeyond it, looming up, was what seemed to be a dark cloud. 

"There she is!" cried the doctor, glass in hand. "We will soon know thetruth now, Rodd. "

"That, sir?" said a voice close behind them. "That's Saint Helena. "

The doctor started round as though he had been stung, to stare fiercelyin the frank face of Joe Cross, who looked rather thin andhollow-cheeked, but had declared himself well enough to take the morningwatch. 

"It is, sir, " said the man, who took the doctor's angry stare for a lookof doubt. "That's right enough, though it don't look like an island. It's the big rock where they've got Bony shut up. "

"Bah!" snapped the doctor, and he turned on his heel and walked away. 

"Turned out of his bunk wrong side up'ards, sir?" asked the man, with asmile. 

"Pah!" ejaculated Rodd, and he stamped off in the other direction. 

"Old 'un's been giving it to him, I suppose, " said Joe to himself. "Oh, I know; he'd been upsetting that bottle of fish soup as the skipperfetched me down to swab up last night--that as went all over theskipper's chart. Pore young chap! I'll go and smooth him down. "

"What do you want?" cried Rodd angrily. 

"Oh, nothing, sir. I only wanted to say I'm sorry I put your uncle outabout the island. I'm a bit deaf in one ear since I got hurt over thatfight, and I mis-underconstumbled him. He said, `There she is, ' and Ithought he was talking about Bony's island, and he meant the brig. "

"Well, suppose he did? There she is. "

"Nay, sir; you take another look. That's a three-master, sir. Don'tyou see?"

"Oh yes, I see now, Joe, " said Rodd, who was rather ashamed of hispetulance to the man. "She was end on to us, and I didn't see themizzen. Why, she's in full sail!"

"Yes, sir, a regular crowd of canvas, topgallants and stunsles all up, and if I haven't forgotten all about a man-of-war, that's what she is, as we used to say, by the cut of her jib, which is a very sensibleremark, sir, as from here her jib's quite out of sight. "

The doctor kept on deck till breakfast-time, sweeping the horizon withhis glass, while the skipper walked up and down with his longmahogany-covered glass tucked under his left arm, and his hands verydeep down in his pockets, while his shoulders were hitched up to hisears. 

Then breakfast, with everything hot except the conduct of the occupantsof the cabin. This was almost icy, and hardly a word was spoken. 

Up on deck again, with the schooner careening over to the pleasantbreeze, but no sign of the brig; but the three-masted vessel wasoverhauling them fast, and before long a gun said, Heave to, in the veryemphatic monosyllable so well understood in the Royal Navy. 

The skipper gave a glance at Uncle Paul with one eye, and that morningit seemed if as he had been suddenly afflicted with a cast, for theother eye turned outward and looked at Rodd. 

Then he gave the order to the man at the wheel, who with a few turns ofthe spokes ran the swift little vessel well up into the wind, her sailsbegan to flap, and she quietly settled down into a gentle rock upon thebeautifully rippled heaving sea. Then time went on, with the man-of-warbearing down upon them rapidly, while the doctor stood scowling angrilyat the rock which had so much to do with the fate of nations standingout more clearly in the sunlit air. 

In due time a boat full of men was swung down from the davits of thecruiser, the oars dipped, and she came skimming along with a steadypull, and every stroke pulled clean and with hardly a splash, till shecame alongside, when, to the delight of Rodd, there in the stern-sheetswere the same officer and middy who had overhauled them off the Africancoast. 

Rodd was all eagerness, and advanced ready to grasp hands with thereefer, but to his great surprise everything was coldly stern andformal. Two marines followed the officers on board, and the skipper, doctor, and Rodd were ordered down into the boat as prisoners, while aprize crew under the command of the middy, who looked more importantthan he did upon his first visit to the schooner, and stared at Rodd asif he had never seen him before, was left on board. 

Uncle Paul spoke to the lieutenant, but his words were received almostin silence, while no explanation being forthcoming, he sat still andfrowned. 

The sloop of war, their old friend, was soon reached, and the prisonerswere marched up to the quarter-deck where the captain stood waiting forthem, scanning them sternly before beginning to question the skipper asto the name of the schooner and their object in those waters. 

Questions were answered and explanations given in Captain Chubb's mostblunt and straightforward way, before the captain turned his searchingeyes upon Uncle Paul. 

"Then you are Dr Robson, sir?" he said. 

"Yes. May I ask--"

"You are here carrying out a scientific research?"

"Yes. "

"In company with your consort, Count Des Saix, of the French brig_Dagobert_?"

"That's quite right, sir; but may I ask--"

"Why you are my prisoners? Certainly. But I will shorten matters bytelling you that your scientific research was a plot to carry off theprisoner of the British Government, the ex-emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. "

"No, sir, I'll be hanged if it was!" cried the doctor. 

"Which plot has completely failed, " added the captain. "As I have said, sir, you are my prisoner. "

"And what about Captain Chubb, here, and my nephew?"

"They are prisoners too, of course. "

"But my schooner--my pleasure yacht?" said the doctor. 

The captain slightly shrugged his shoulders, as he smiled--

"That will be well taken care of, sir, you may depend. "

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ah, Rodd, my boy, " said the doctor, shortly afterwards, "you aregetting plenty of adventures; but you needn't be uncomfortable. Thiswill all be cleared up. Well, Chubb, I am afraid you were right; at anyrate the King's officer seems to be quite of your opinion. "

"Yes, sir, but wait a bit, " said the captain. "I suppose they'll get usclose in, and I shouldn't be at all surprised if we find, when we get tothe other side of the island, that they've got the brig snug in shelterthere. "

"What, captured too?" cried Rodd excitedly. 

"Yes, sir. This sloop of war is kept here to cruise about the islandand keep strangers off. That's what she's for. "

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. 

I HAVE SINNED--FORGIVE. 

That same afternoon the sloop of war was lying close inshore, with thebrig and schooner near at hand, when a barge put off from thelanding-place bearing the Governor and other officials, who werereceived at the gangway of the sloop with the customary salute, andshortly afterwards a little informal court was held, with the prisonerspresent, while the First Lieutenant of the sloop gave evidence to theeffect that just after dark he had observed, from the anchorage wherethe sloop lay, a light, evidently intended for a signal, exhibited in apeculiar way from the masthead of some vessel. 

He had noticed the brig now lying at anchor some distance in the offingearly in the evening, but an adverse wind had prevented the sloop fromgoing out. This light appeared at intervals during the next two hours, and on reporting the matter to the captain it was consideredsufficiently suspicious for the brig from which it evidently came to beoverhauled. This was done during the night; the prisoners brought in;and they were here to give an account of themselves. 

Upon being asked if there was any difficulty in overhauling and seizingthe brig, which appeared to be well manned and armed, the lieutenantsmiled and said no, for the simple ruse of answering the brig's signalby the exhibition of lights in a similar way brought her close inshore, and then in the darkness the rest was easy, for it fell perfectly calm, and the sudden advance in the darkness of three well-armed boats maderesistance vain. 

"They offered no resistance, then?" asked the Governor. 

"Oh yes, " was the reply; "a very brave resistance; but they wereoverpowered by numbers and brought in. "

As this evidence was given the Count and his son stood together, theformer looking calm and dignified, the latter defiant, and when askedwhat defence he had to make for his clandestine approach to a placewhere it must have been well-known to him landing could be only allowedby the special permission of the Governor, and told that it wasperfectly evident his coming could have but one intent, to aid in theescape of the prisoner who had been so long in the island--the Countspoke out at once bravely and earnestly in the defence of those who werethere standing as fellow-prisoners. 

He wished, he said, to exonerate the English doctor and the captain ofthe schooner from all participation in his attempt. They had met on thehigh seas quite by accident, and finding how carefully the prison of hisaugust master was watched, he had led the doctor into the belief that hetoo was engaged upon a scientific expedition. 

Just then the eyes of the two lads met, and as Rodd darted an angryindignant look at Morny, the latter made a deprecating gesture, while heseemed to say, Be merciful; you do not know all. 

The Count went on, taking the whole blame of the proceedings uponhimself, and asking for mercy for his son, who had acted entirely underhis orders and had been perfectly obedient, as a son should be. As hespoke these words he looked hard at Rodd, and then at his uncle, whostood frowning there. 

"I failed in my enterprise, " continued the Count, "for I was growingdesperate at the difficulties which surrounded me. Certain signalsshould have answered mine, and the lights which were shown from thedirection of the shore were not exactly those which I anticipated. But, as I have said, I was growing desperate at my want of success, and inthe hope that after all these signals might mean that my august masterwould be brought off in a fishing-boat, I risked all and allowed myselfto be deluded, as it were, into what proved to be a trap. I have nomore to say, gentlemen, save this, that I ask no mercy for myself. Whatever the English laws award to one who has acted as I have done, Iaccept. But my son, as I have said, was entirely under my orders, andas for my crew, they have only been my faithful servants, and tried tocarry out my will. England must be too brave to wish to punish such asthese. As to the doctor, his nephew, and the crew of the schooner, itwould be absurd for England after my explanation to say more to themthan `Go in peace. '"

There was perfect silence for a minute or so, and then the Governor, oneof his staff, an officer of foot who was the commander of the militaryforce stationed in the island, and the captain of the sloop, held ashort consultation together, after which the officers drew back intotheir places and left the Governor to speak. 

"Dr Robson, " he said, "Captain Ellison, in command of the sloop of war, has told me of his previous meeting with you at the mouth of one of theWest African rivers, and the way in which your vessel was fitted out, and of the state of your papers. Everything, in fact, goes to prove theperfect truth of your story and the fact of your ignorance of the planfor the escape of the prisoner. I can offer you no apology for yourbeing made prisoner and brought here, for I think that due considerationwill prove to you that you were somewhat imprudent in your action andchoice of friend. You and yours, sir, are perfectly at liberty to leavethe island at once. As for you, Count Des Saix, " he continued, "as theGovernor of this island I have certain duties to perform, and after suchan important and daring attempt as yours, I must tell you that in spiteof peculiar circumstances which I will refer to shortly, this mattercannot end here. It is an affair of diplomacy in which others areconcerned as well as England. For the present you and your people mustconsider yourselves prisoners pending the arrival of the dispatches thatI must send to the British Government. Yours, sir, was a daring andextremely hazardous plot, designed in extravagance and I may say inignorance of the impossibility of its execution. The prisoner was tooclosely guarded and watched, and, as you have seen, it was quiteimpossible for your vessel to approach this island without being seized. I gather that you have been a naval officer in the service of the lateGovernment of France, and I presume that it was from a feeling ofdevotion to the Emperor Napoleon--I should say, our prisoner here--thatyou and your friends devoted yourselves to this task, which has provedso signal a failure. Sir, I can only admire your act and the devotionof the followers of the late Emperor. "

"Sir, to us, " cried the Count, "your way of speaking of our augustmaster is little better than an insult. With us there is no lateEmperor; he is still the ruler of the French Empire, our august masterwhile he lives. "

"Sir, " said the Governor, slowly and gravely, "mine is the painful dutyto announce to you that my words were well chosen and correct, that yourdesigns were as hopeless as they were vain; the late Emperor Napoleondied two nights since. "

The Count gave a violent start, gazing wildly in the Governor's eyes, asif asking whether his words were true. Then turning to his son he tookoff his cap and stood in silence with his head bowed down, before sayingin a low broken voice that reached no farther than the ears of UnclePaul and Rodd--

"Morny, my son, we were faithful to the end, even though we failed. Ouraugust master is free at last. But our country lives, and in the futurethere is always for us _la France_. "

There were several meetings between Uncle Paul, Rodd, and theprisoners--if prisoners they could be deemed, for their captivity was ofthe easiest kind--before the schooner set sail for England and home, andduring one of these, when all seemed once more the best of friends, thedoctor was heard to say--

"Yes, of course, I forgive him now, and you know, Des Saix, since thatsort of a trial we had I have never said one word of reproach. I wasnot going to trample on a fallen man. But, you know, all that business, to use a coarse old English expression, sticks in my gizzard. It wasnot honourable, nor gentlemanly; I won't add noble. I don't think youought to have done it to one who trusted you and helped you as I did. Now, look here; do you think it was a good example to set your son?"

"My friend, " said the Count humbly--"May I still call you my friend?"

"As long as you live, sir!" cried the doctor warmly. 

"Then I say to you, No; it was dishonourable, treacherous, and vile. But my sword was devoted to the service of my dead master, my life washis, and I was ready to give all to save him from his unhappy fate. CanI say more than this: I have sinned. Forgive. "

As matters turned out it was many, many months, owing to an accident tothe schooner and the delays in re-fitting at Las Palmas, and long staysmade in the Mediterranean--the entrance to which could not be passedwithout a cruise within--before the _Maid of Salcombe_ approached theEnglish coast, and, oddly enough, once more Captain Chubb was driven totake refuge for a few hours at Havre-de-Grace, where one of the firstthings to be noticed was the familiar brig. 

Inquiries followed at last, and Rodd and his uncle learned that thevessel had been lying there for some time while her captain, the Count, and his son were at Paris. 

No: the officer in charge of the brig could give no information abouttheir residence in Paris, but he had heard that they were not going tosail in the brig again, as they were about being appointed to a largeship in the King's Navy. 

"Humph, Rodd!" said the doctor. "This sounds like good news. "

"Yes, uncle, but we must try and see them again. "

"Would you like to?"

"Of course!" cried Rodd warmly. "For a good long talk about old days. "

"Perhaps, " said the doctor, "they may hear of our return, and may try tosee us. "

"And if they do, uncle?"

"Well, " said the doctor, smiling, "they know our address. "

THE END.