e her for
five minutes with the men in their present undisciplined state and no
one but yourself to direct operations. Your defeat under such
circumstances is an absolute certainty; and think what would be the fate
of yourself and your misguided followers if taken in arms against the
flag under which they have sworn to serve. At present some at least of
them may hope for mercy if they will but--"

"Away with him! Take him below!" shouted Farmer, "and if he attempts to
open his mouth again put a bullet through his brains. Now, shipmates,"
he continued, as the master was hurried below, "make up your minds, and
quickly too; which will you have, the yard-rope or a pitched battle?"

"What occasion is there for either?" inquired a burly boatswain's-mate.
"There's more ways of killing a cat than choking of her with cream.
Let's square dead away afore it and set stunsails alow and aloft, both
sides. I'll lay my life we run far enough away from the _Mermaid_ afore
sunset to dodge her in the dark."

"No good," dissented Farmer. "The _Mermaid_ could beat us a couple of
knots off the wind in this breeze."

"Ay, ay; that's true enough; she could so," assented a topman. "But we
have the heels of her on a taut bowline; so why not brace sharp up on
the starboard tack, pass between the islands, and then make for Porto
Rico?"

"What! and run the gauntlet of those two cruisers inshore there, as well
as take our chance of falling in with the _Magicienne_ and the
_Regulus_, which we know are knocking about somewhere in that direction!
Is that the best counsel you can give, Ben?"

"Well, then, let's haul close in with the land, set fire to the ship,
and take to the boats," answered Ben.

"And what then?" sneered Farmer.

"Why, land, to be sure, and take sarvice with Jack Spaniard," was the
reply.

"Why, man, do you suppose they would welcome us if we went to them
empty-handed?" asked Farmer. "No, no, that will never do. If we join
the Spaniards we must take the ship with us to ensure a welcome; and I'm
half inclined to think that will be the best thing we can do. But not
now; that must be thought over at leisure. Meanwhile, what is to be
done in the present emergency? We have no time for further argument.
Will you stand by me and obey my orders?"

"Ay, ay, we will, every man Jack of us, sink or swim, fight or fly," was
the reply from a hundred throats.

"That's well, my lads," exclaimed Farmer exultantly; "it shall