shot during
the day, giving to each person a small quantity of fresh provisions,
which were so much needed. The drowned fowls had also been boiled.
Though somewhat tough and flavourless, they were not to be despised;
altogether, there seemed but little fear of any suffering from want of
food. Harry Shafto, however, knew better than any one on board that
their voyage might still be a long one; and he advised the doctor to be
very careful in serving out the provisions. He gave the same counsel
also to the boatswain, the people in his boat being disposed to eat as
much as they fancied, without thought of the future. Mrs Rumbelow, on
hearing this, offered to go into the boat, and lecture them on the
subject.

"They will listen to me, Mr Shafto," she observed, "more perhaps than
to others in authority over them--the soldiers will, at all events.
They are accustomed to me, and so are the women. As to the sailors,
I'll try to make them ashamed of themselves, if they hold out."

Harry was very glad to obtain the assistance of the brave woman. She
soon talked the unruly crew of the cutter into obedience. Even poor
Ensign Holt quailed under her eye, when she rated him for his behaviour;
she would not leave him until he had promised to behave himself for the
future, as she observed. She whispered, however, to the boatswain to
keep an eye on him during the day, and at night to have him lashed
securely to a thwart.

"You never can tell what these demented people will do," she observed to
the boatswain. "I just tell you to do what the doctor advises you,
remember; and now I must go back to my party in the launch."

The cutter's people, once having got her, were in no way disposed to let
her go, and declared that if she did not stop by fair means, she must by
foul. However, she laughed at their threats, and ordering two of the
seamen to get out their oars, desired the boatswain to steer alongside.
She was obeyed; but as she was stepping from one boat to the other,
several of those in the cutter jumped up as if to detain her, while her
friends in the launch held out their hands to assist her on board. For
a moment it seemed as if there was to be a regular skirmish.

"I shall know how to trust you again," she exclaimed, in her cheery
tone, much amused at the incident. "I am grateful to you for the
compliment; but a woman likes to have her own way, and I intend to have
mine as long as I can get it."

Notwithstanding t