time to steal up again right by 'em and begin to
come 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, for
they're sure to have a watch set. I know what out-and-outers they are
to sleep, but it's too much to expect that they will have both eyes shut
at 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 shall
have no big guns at work upon us, and watch or no watch we'll manage to
lay this 'ere boat alongside of our schooner, and if any one says
anything again' our getting aboard, I should like to know why, and if we
do get aboard I don't think it's in the schooner's new crew to drive us
back again into the boat. There, gentlemen, that's all I know, and if
some one else--the doctor here, or Mr Rodd, or Mr Morny, who is a
French 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 the
doctor; "and how are we to pass the weary time till then?"

"Oh," said Joe cheerily, "we can watch these 'ere great smiling efts
till then. They seem to be sailing about and watching us as if they'd
got 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 the
false starts. I think, sir, as we'll make one or two, as if we was half
afraid 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 a
hay-stack in a ten-acre field; let alone a boat being pulled hard across
stream. That'll be all right."

And so it proved when Joe Cross put his tactics into force, making the
men 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 the
men were busy about the guns and all crowding to the bulwarks to watch
the proceedings of the boat.

Then a feint was made in one direction, then in another, and at last Joe
stood up in the stern, to beg