as we've got
right on our side and only a set of mongrels before us, a good bold dash
to board them will make us as strong as they. I say, sir, if you will
let me lead, we will try and take our schooner, give them a broadside of
bullets 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 end
of 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 one
hand upon his gun, the other upon his right hip, he looked the very
perfection 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 a
ringing cheer, helped by the two lads, while the doctor took off and
waved his straw hat as he joined in. _Bang_--_thud_!

A great grey puff of smoke started from the schooner's deck and a ball
came skipping in their direction over the smooth stream.

"Well, I do call that too bad," cried Joe, as the men uttered a
deep-toned "Yah-h-h!"

"Arter the way in which I cared for you and kept you clean, to go and
behave 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 she
was 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 all
at 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 have
time to re-load. They won't hit us; will they, boys?"

"Not they!" came in chorus; but the next moment there was another
report, and a smaller ball struck the water so near the boat that the
spray was sent flying over them.

"They've got the two small guns to bear, sir," said Joe quietly, "and
there's somebody aboard as knows how to aim."

He had hardly ceased speaking when there was another puff of smoke from
the schooner's deck, accompanied by a whizzing, shrieking sound through
the air just above their heads, while before they had glided with the
stream another dozen yards there was a puff of smoke from the
three-master's deck, followed directly after by a puff from the strange
schooner, and as the reports of the two heavy guns were echoed from the
great walls of verd