" cried the captain staring. "I should have been
proud to have been your father, my young hopeful. 'Pon my soul I
should. You are a cool one, you are. You go and run the prettiest
little schooner there is along the coast upon the rocks, and then you
have the confounded impudence to look me in the face and tell me the
rudder wants greasing and it stuck."

"So it did!" cried Jack Penny indignantly. "Think I don't know? I
heard it squeak. You weren't on board. The ship wouldn't move
afterwards."

"Here, I say; which are you?" cried the captain; "a rogue or a fool?"

"I d'know," said Jack coolly. "Father used to say I was a fool
sometimes. P'r'aps I am. I say, though, if I were you I'd go and tie
down that yaller Malay chap in the cabin. He's as vicious as an old man
kangaroo in a water-hole."

"Your father's wrong, my fine fellow," said the captain with a grim
smile; "you ar'n't a fool, for a fool couldn't give such good advice as
that. Here, doctor, p'r'aps you'll lend me one of your shooting things.
You can get into your cabin; I can't get into mine."

The doctor nodded, and in the excitement of the time we forgot all about
our drenched clothes as he went down and returned directly with his
revolver, and another for the captain's use.

"Thank'ye, doctor," said the captain grimly, cocking the piece. "I
don't want to use it, and I daresay the sight of it will cool our yaller
friend; but it's just as well to be prepared. What! are you coming too?
Thought your trade was to mend holes and not make 'em."

"My trade is to save life, captain," said the doctor quietly. "Perhaps
I shall be helping to save life by coming down with you."

"P'r'aps you will, doctor. Here, we don't want you two boys."

"We only want to come and see," I said in an ill-used tone; and before
the doctor could speak the captain laughingly said, "Come on," and we
followed them down below, the men bringing up the rear, armed with bars
and hatchets.

The captain did not hesitate for a moment, but went straight down to the
cabin door, turned the key, and threw it open, though all the while he
knew that there was a man inside fiercer than some savage beast. But
had he been a little more cautious it would have saved trouble, for the
Malay had evidently been waiting as he heard steps, and as the door was
opened he made a spring, dashed the doctor and captain aside, overset
me, and, as the men gave way, reached the deck, where he ran r