that evening he and Poole had counted no
less than ten--that is to say, their little triangular back-fins--
gliding through the surface of the water.

"No," he said to himself, "I shall have to wait;" and he started
violently, for a voice at his elbow said--

"Did you speak?"

"Eh? No, I don't think so," replied the boy.

"You must have been talking to yourself. I say, what a lovely night!
Did you notice that signal that we ran up?"

"No," cried Fitz eagerly.

"It was while you were looking at the sunset. Father made me run up a
flag. Don't you remember my asking you to let me have the glass a
minute?"

"Yes, of course."

"Well--I don't mind telling you now--that was to the fort, and they
answered it just in time before it was too dark to see. I think they
hoisted lights afterwards, three in a particular shape, but there were
so many others about that father couldn't be sure."

"Then I suppose that means going into port at daylight?"

"Yes, and land our cargo under the guns of the fort. I say, listen."

"What to?"

"That," said Poole, in a whisper.

"Oh yes, that splashing. Fish, I suppose."

"No," whispered Poole. "I believe it's oars."

He had hardly spoken when the skipper's voice was heard giving orders
almost in a whisper; but they were loud enough to be heard and
understood, for there was a sudden rush and padding of feet about the
deck, followed by a soft rattling, and the next minute the middy was
aware of the presence of a couple of the sailors armed with capstan-bars
standing close at hand.

Then all was silence once more, and the darkness suddenly grew more
dense, following upon a dull squeaking sound as of a pulley-wheel in a
block.

"They've doused the light," whispered Poole. "It's a boat coming off
from the shore," he continued excitedly, with his lips close to the
middy's ear. "It's the people we expect, I suppose, but father is
always suspicious at a time like this, for you never know who they may
be. But if they mean mischief they will get it warm."

Fitz's thoughts went back at a bound to the dark night when he boarded
with the cutter's crew, and his heart beat faster and faster still as,
leaning outward to try and pierce the soft transparent darkness of the
tropic night, he felt his arm tightly gripped by Poole with one hand,
while with the other he pointed to a soft pale flashing of the water,
which was accompanied by a dull regular _splash, splash_.

"Friends or