of course not," the captain said. "Well, it's something that we
have run these pests to earth at last, but I see it is going to be no
easy matter to get at them."

The captain now signaled to the captain of the schooner to come on
board, and when he did so the two officers retired to the cabin
together and had a long consultation. The young officer on coming on
deck got into his boat, and taking Lieutenant Pearson with him rowed
for the cliffs, a few hundred yards to the west of the inlet. Here
they could obtain a view of the channel and its surroundings. Not a
man was to be seen. The muzzles of the six guns pointed menacingly
down into the passage, and the chains could be seen just above the
water's edge.

"I think we will go back now, Mr. Pearson. I really think we ought to
be very much obliged to those fellows for not sinking us. I wonder
what was their motive in letting us off so easily?"

"I suppose they feel pretty confident that our report is not likely to
encourage an attack, and they think that if they were to blow us to
pieces it would only make Captain Wilson the more determined to
destroy them. At least that is the conclusion I came to as I rowed
back last time."

"Yes, I should think that is it," the young captain said. "It is
certainly as awkward a looking place to attack in boats as I ever saw.
Of course were it not for the chains my vessel could get in, and I
dare say she has been in there many a time before we captured her, but
it would be a very risky thing to take the frigate in without knowing
anything of the depth of water either in the channel or inside."

Both returned to the frigate. "Mr. Pearson's report is fully borne
out, Captain Wilson. It would be a most desperate enterprise to attack
with our boats. Half of them would be sunk before they got to the
chains; and even if they got past them, which I doubt, there is no
saying what difficulties and obstacles may be inside."

"And now about the frigate, Captain Chambers."

"Well, sir, that is for you to decide. I am quite ready to take the
schooner in; though with the plunging power of that battery raking her
fore and aft I say fairly that it would be a desperate enterprise, and
if she had not sufficient way upon her to carry away the chains
nothing could save her. As to the frigate, it seems to me that she
would run an equal risk with the schooner, with the additional danger
that there may not be water enough for her."

"Well, it certai