a couple of miles from the ship, and I knew that I could not be
sent back, I ventured to crawl out and look over the gunnel. The inky
sea around us was dotted with boats, all the party keeping pretty close
together. The night was so dark that I could see little more than their
outlines, as they crept rapidly along, like many-footed monsters, over
the deep. I did not fancy that Mr Johnson knew I was there, but his
sharp eyes made me out through the gloom.

"Mr Merry, step aft, if you please, sir," he bawled out suddenly.

Stepping over the oars, I went and sat myself down by him, but said
nothing.

"Mr Merry, this conduct is highly reprehensible. I must report it to
the captain as soon as we get back, after we have carried and brought
out that French corvette, and covered ourselves with honour and glory;
and I don't know what he'll say to you. And now, sir, after, as in duty
bound, from being your superior officer, I have expressed my opinions, I
should like to know what you are going to do when we get alongside the
enemy?"

"Climb up with the rest, and fight the Frenchmen," I replied promptly.

"Very good, Mr Merry; but suppose one of the Frenchmen was to give you
a poke in the ribs with a boarding-pike, or a shot through the chest, or
a slash with a cutlass, what would you do then?"

"Grin and bear it, I suppose, like anybody else," was my answer.

"Very good, very good, indeed, Mr Merry," said the boatswain,
well-pleased; "that's the spirit I like, and expected to find in you.
Now, my boy, whatever you do, stick by me; I'll do my best for you. If
I get knocked over, and there's no saying what will happen in desperate
work like this, then keep close to Edkins. He's a good swordsman, and
won't let you be hurt if he can help it. I should be sorry if any harm
came to you. But, Mr Merry, how are you going to fight? I don't see
that you have got a sword, and I fancy that you'll not do much execution
with one of the ship's cutlasses."

I told him that I had got my dirk, and that I hoped to make good use of
that.

He laughed heartily.

"A tailor's bodkin would be of as much use in boarding," he answered;
"but you shall have one of my pistols; the chances are that I do not
require either of them. Cold steel suits me best."

I thanked Mr Johnson warmly, and then asked him what orders had been
received about attacking. He told me that some of the boats were to
board on the bows, and others on the quarte