enky," cried Roylance, "he'd have taken you like a pill."

"I believe," cried Syd, angrily, "that you'd all have liked it better if
I'd come back with one leg snapped off."

"Yes," sneered Terry, who was laughing by the door.

"No, no," cried Jenkins, maliciously. "Mike Terry would have liked to
see him without any fistusses."

"Why?" said Roylance.

"'Cause he could lick him then."

"I'll put that down in my log, Baby," said Terry, with an ugly laugh.
"You're getting deeply in my debt, and you'll have to pay, or I shall
have to pay you."

"Oh, lor'," cried the little middy, diving under the table in mock
alarm, and then slowly raising his head up on the other side, to peer at
Terry. "What would become of me if I hadn't a good banker."

"Who's your banker, Baby?" said Roylance, mockingly.

"Syd Belton there," and there was a laugh.

Terry ground his teeth together, as he turned away and went on deck,
followed by a roar of laughter.

"Look here, I say," cried Syd, who bore his honours very mildly, "you
shouldn't tease Terry like that, Jenkins; he'll serve you out for it
some day."

"He daren't. I should come to you."

"And I shouldn't help you, for you'd deserve it."

"Very well," said the little fellow, "I'd fight my own battle. Who's
afraid? Cock-a-doodle-do!"

He gave a clever imitation of a pugnacious game-cock, after clapping his
hands against his sides.

"Terry wouldn't touch him," said Roylance, laughing. "Little people are
licenced to be saucy. But I say, Belton, what's the rock like?"

Syd described it as well as he could, and he was listened to with eager
attention, but it did not seem probable to Roylance that anything
further would come of it.

He was undeceived the next morning though, for after signalling and
visiting of the two commanders, it appeared that something definite was
to be done, and soon after the stir began.

"Here, Belton," said Roylance, "what do you say to this? I believe
we're going to attack the town."

Contradiction came the next moment in the excitement on deck.

"This means business," said Roylance, as he stood with Syd, watching the
carrying out of certain orders; and in due time two long guns were
placed ready, the barge and the launch were lowered down, and
gun-carriages and tackle were hoisted down into each.

The men worked well, for this was a change from the monotony of cruising
to and fro on the look-out for ships which never came, or which w