ecks," said the
captain.

"Yes; but this afternoon is already gone. We shall have darkness soon."

"Gone! Why, it is five bells!"

"Yes, sir; fighting takes time. I say, how the smoke has cleared away!"

"Yes; it is less choking now," said the captain thoughtfully; and he
went slowly to where Gregory was waiting and watching still for an
attack upon the boat.

The captain said nothing further for some few minutes, and then returned
to Morgan, who was very silent, and evidently weak and in great pain.

Here he had a long discussion, and as Mark watched him wonderingly,
trying the while to make out what steps his father would take next, the
captain went slowly to where the major was talking calmly enough to Mrs
O'Halloran and his child.

"Nonsense!" he was saying; "there is no such a fine bit of Latin
anywhere as nil desperandum. You never know what course a battle may
take. Old Nap thought he had won Waterloo; but he had not. Cheer up,
my dears! Look how young Mark Strong takes it. Well, captain, he
added, leaving the cabin and joining him, what news? Have you naval
gentlemen hatched the conspiracy?"

"It is no conspiracy, major," said the captain quietly; "but we have
been trying to arrive at the best course of proceeding."

"Well, captain, and brother in affliction, what's to be done?"

"I propose a bold attempt to clear the deck of these scoundrels, major,
during the night. Once get them over the side, we could keep them out.
Will you give me your advice as a brave soldier who understands these
things better than I, and will you fight with me?"

"My dear Strong," said the major sharply, as he caught the captain's
hand; "you ought to have been a soldier, sir."

"But you see I am a sailor," said the captain with a sad smile.

"There's the pity, sir. Now to business. Will I fight with you!
Bedad, sir, I've proved that."

"You have, my dear major, like the bravest of men."

"No, no. Tut, tut! Like a soldier should, sir. But now about this
plan of yours."

"Yes, major, yes."

"Well, sir, there must be about eighty or ninety of these tawny rascals,
and we are all more or less damaged, and, counting our young friend
Mark, eleven men and three hospital nurses. Now the nurses can't fight,
and Mark must still be powder-monkey, so there we are ten men, and, as I
said, all damaged, to fight eighty."

"Yes," said the captain, "the odds are very great; but I think we might
do it."

"Humph!"