with him," said Mr Frewen. "You two men come with
us, and you, Dale, keep guard here with Mr Preddle. A shout will bring
us back directly."

"Right, sir," I said, in a disappointed tone, and then I brightened up,
for he told Dumlow to stop instead.

"Don't be long," said Mr Preddle. "I want to see to my fish."

"On'y to think, gents," growled Bob Hampton, holding a lantern while Mr
Brymer and the doctor thrust fresh cartridges into their pistols, "the
skipper--I mean Frenchy--sends Barney aft to speak to the men at the
wheel, for they were steering anyhow, and he knowed as this game was
going to be played, and--Eh? Well, what are you laughing at, Mr Dale?
What have I said wrong?"

For I had burst into a roar of laughter, in which Mr Frewen joined.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

"That's one enemy the less to deal with," cried the mate, as we went
aft, followed by the sailor. "Only a couple of them to tackle."

"I makes three of 'em, sir," said Hampton, "so don't you make no
mistake. Barney will be as nasty as nasty at seeing hisself the wrong
side, and find as he can fight when he likes."

"Our friend Barney is already accounted for, Hampton," cried Mr Frewen.

"What?--you have tackled him?" said Bob Hampton excitedly, slapping his
knee.

"Yes, that we have, Bob," I cried, "and he is quite safe."

"Then I scuses you all for laughing, gentlemen; though it did seem
rather a rum thing to me for you to be a-busting out in a loud grin at a
serus time like this. I see now. You met him then?"

"Yes, we met him," replied Mr Frewen, leading the way up the ladder to
the poop-deck, "but he must wait."

He cocked his pistol as he reached the top, and we did the same.

"Shall I speak 'em first, gentlemen?" said Bob Hampton, in a low voice.

"Yes, tell them to surrender," said the mate. "We don't want any more
fighting; and look here, Hampton, we want their help to navigate the
ship."

"I know, sir," growled the old sailor, and stepping to the front he
walked straight to where the two men still kept to their posts at the
wheel, knowing as they did that to leave it meant throwing the ship into
the trough of the sea to be deluged by every wave.

"Game's up, my lads!" shouted Hampton. "Orficers has got the upper hand
on us with loaded pistols, and you've got to knuckle down same as we
have, and return to your dooty."

"All right, messmate," said one of the men, shouting back so as to make
his voice heard, "I d