s only stunned, but the injury to his pigtail was more than
he could bear.

"Of all the cowardly games as ever I did come acrost," he growled, "this
here's 'bout the worst. Think o' trying to cut off a sailor's pigtail!
It's worse than mutiny!"

"Hold your tongue, you stupid fellow!" cried Hilary, who could not help
feeling amused even then. "Why, don't you see that your tail has saved
your head?"

"Who wanted his head saved that way?" growled Tom Tully. "It's
cowardly, that's what it is! I don't call it fair fighting to hit a man
behind."

"Silence!" exclaimed Hilary; and as the trampling went on overhead he
tried to make out what the enemy were doing.

He was startled to find Sir Henry on board, but though he looked upon
him as a friend, he felt no compunction now in meeting him as an enemy
who must take his chance. Betraying him when a fugitive was one thing,
dealing with him as one of a party making an attack upon a king's ship
another.

A chill of dread ran through him for a moment as he thought of the
possibility of Sir Henry's daughter being his companion, but a second
thought made him feel assured that she could not be present at a time
like this.

"And Sir Henry would only think me a contemptible traitor if I
surrendered," he said to himself; and then he began to make fresh plans.

He stepped into the cabin for a moment or two, to find that the
lieutenant was lying in his bed place, perfectly insensible, while the
marines, with their pieces in hand, were waiting fresh orders.

The difficulty was to give those orders, and turn which way he would
there was a pair of eyes fixed upon him.

He had never before understood the responsibility of a commanding
officer in a time of emergency, and how great a call there would be upon
him for help, guidance, and protection. One thing, however, he kept
before his eyes, and that was the idea that he must retake the cutter,
and how to do it with the least loss of life was the problem to be
solved.

In his extremity he called a council of war under the big lantern, with
Billy Waters, the corporal of marines, and the boatswain for
counsellors, and took their opinions.

"Well, sir, if it was me in command I should do as I said afore," said
Billy Waters cheerfully. "A lot o' powder would rift that there
cabin-hatch right off; and them as guards it."

"Yes, and kill the lieutenant and half the men below," said Hilary.
"What do you say, corporal?"

"I thin