for them to walk the plank."

The remark causes the captain to smile, as also the other officers;
though two of the latter abstain from such cheerful demonstration--the
third lieutenant and midshipman, already mentioned, on both of whose
brows the cloud still sits, seeming darker than ever.

"It's a very remarkable thing," observes the commander, musingly, "how
that sort of feeling still affects the forecastle! For your genuine
British tar, who'll board an enemy's ship, crawling across the muzzle of
a shotted gun, and has no fear of death in human shape, will act like a
scared child when it threatens him in the guise of his Satanic majesty!
I have no doubt, as you say, Mr Black, that our lads forward are a bit
shy about boarding yonder vessel. Let me show you how to send their
shyness adrift. I'll do that with a single word!"

The captain steps forward, his subordinates following him. When within
speaking distance of the fore-deck, he stops, and makes sign he has
something to say. The tars are all attention.

"Men!" he exclaims, "you see that barque we've been chasing; and at her
masthead a flag reversed--which you know to be a signal of distress?
That is a call never to be disregarded by an English ship, much less an
English man-of-war. Lieutenant! order a boat lowered, and the boatswain
to pipe for boarders. Those of you who wish to go, muster on the
main-deck."

A loud "hurrah!" responds to the appeal; and, while its echoes are still
resounding through the ship, the whole crew comes crowding towards the
main-deck. Scores of volunteers present themselves, enough to man every
boat in the frigate.

"So, gentlemen!" says the captain, turning to his officers with a proud
expression on his countenance, "there's the British sailor for you.
I've said he fears not man. And, when humanity makes call, as you see,
neither is he frightened at ghost or devil!"

A second cheer succeeds the speech, mingled with good-humoured remarks,
though not much laughter. The sailors simply acknowledge the compliment
their commanding officer has paid them, at the same time feeling that
the moment is too solemn for merriment; for their instinct of humanity
is yet under control of the weird feeling.

As the captain turns aft to the quarter, many of them fall away toward
the fore-deck, till the group of volunteers becomes greatly diminished.
Still there are enough to man the largest boat in the frigate, or fight
any crew the cha