ent for a small heave-line
with which he had done some lassoing on the same occasion, and also on
Captain Mazagan at a later period. The five hands in the port gangway
had loaded their weapons, and were ready to be called into the field.
The captain took a look at them, and all was satisfactory. He hastened
back to the forecastle, where he saw that the boat was already pulling
for the Maud.

CHAPTER IX

A MOST IMPUDENT PROPOSITION

Certainly it looked decidedly warlike on board of the little steamer
Maud; and Felix, who was never inclined to be very serious over
anything, declared that she was like a bantam rooster ready for a
pitched battle in a farmyard. Captain Scott called Louis out, and
proposed to him that he should take the command of the riflemen, who
were required to keep out of sight of the Moors in the boat.

"Of course I will obey orders wherever I am placed; but, if you will
excuse me, I must protest against the appointment," replied Louis, as
they watched the approaching enemy. "Morris is one of our number in the
gangway, and it would not be fair or right to put another fellow over
the first officer."

"That is all right in theory; but Morris is the youngest fellow on
board," reasoned the captain.

"But he is just as resolute, plucky, and prompt as any one on board. He
thinks quick, and has good judgment," persisted Louis. "I should be very
sorry to be placed over his head."

"Say no more! I only thought it would be unfortunate to lose you in the
place where you could do the most good," added Scott. "I will give my
orders to Morris, and let him carry them out. I don't know any better
than the rest of the fellows what is coming out of this affair; but it
is plain enough now that Mazagan intends to do something."

"No doubt of that; but it does not follow that he intends to attack us.
He knows very well that such would be piracy," suggested Louis.

"Piracy! He makes no bones of anything that will put forty thousand
dollars into his pocket; and that is what he expects to make out of us.
Piracy is nothing but a pastime to him; and he relies upon His Highness
to save his neck from any undue stretching," replied Captain Scott, as
he walked to the port gangway. "Is everything ready here, Morris?"

"Everything, Captain," answered the first officer. "The rifles are all
loaded, and every man has a supply of cartridges in his pocket. Every
one has a revolver except Pitts."

"I have two, and he s