r Brymer soon rendered the
stern-windows safe by having the dead-lights over them, while I was sent
round to screw up the glazed-iron frame of every circular window. Then
our principal vulnerable point was the stay beneath the bowsprit, where
he stationed Dumlow, armed with a capstan-bar, which the big sailor
prepared to use as a club; the other dangerous points being the chains,
where it was possible for a man to climb up by means of a boot-hook.

These places Mr Brymer guarded as well as possible by stationing one or
other of his forces ready for their defence, with the understanding that
we were to act on our discretion, and run to help in the defence of the
part most menaced.

All these arrangements were quickly made, and lastly, the saloon was
reserved for our final stand, the cannon being wheeled just inside,
pointed so as to sweep the entrance, though I failed to see how it was
to be fired if we were driven there, when the red-hot poker was in the
stove of the galley.

By this time they were all armed. Miss Denning was back in our citadel,
the saloon, where we had all been refreshed with the provisions she had
prepared for us. Mr Brymer had begged Mr Denning, too, to go into his
cabin, out of the way of danger; but he had flushed up and insisted upon
having a chair placed by the cannon, and being furnished with one of the
guns and some cartridges.

"I am a good shot," he said, "weak as I am, and I command a good deal of
the bulwarks on either side of the ship."

So he was placed as he wished, and sat with his gun across his knees,
just at the breach of the cannon.

"And I can fire that if it becomes necessary," he confided to me, as I
said good-bye to him before I went to my place.

"How?" I asked,--"with a match?"

"No," he whispered; "if it comes to the worst, and Jarette and his
scoundrels are making for here, I shall put the muzzle of my gun to the
touch-hole and fire it."

"Won't it blow the priming away?" I said.

"No; it will fire the piece instantly."

"I hope he will not have to try," I thought to myself as I ran to
Walters' cabin, and told him of the fight to come.

"And I can't help," he moaned. "I wish I could."

"What, to take the ship?" I said spitefully.

"You know better than that," he said.

I don't know how it was, but one minute I was saying that to him
spitefully, the next I had hold of his hand and shook it.

"I didn't mean it," I said quite hurriedly. "Good-bye, o