boat-hook, boat and trailing sail were being carried onward by
the schooner, and another man was climbing over the port bulwark.

What followed passed very quietly. The man gained the deck and ran aft
to where the captain and mate were hurrying to meet him.

There was a quick passing of something white, and then the man almost
glided over the bulwarks again into the boat, which fell astern, and
those who manned her began to hoist the long lateen sail once more.

"A message from the shore," whispered Poole excitedly, as he saw his
father step into the shelter of one of the boats swinging from the
davits, to screen himself from any observant glass on the gunboat's
deck, and there he rapidly tore open a packet and scanned the message
that it contained.

"Oh, I should like to know what it says," whispered Poole, "but I
mustn't ask him. It's lucky to be old Burgess," he continued, for the
captain walked slowly to his chief officer, who stood sulkily apart as
if not paying the slightest heed to what was going on.

The skipper stood speaking to him for about a minute, and the lad saw
the heavy-looking mate give a short nod of the head and then turn his
eyes upwards towards the white spread sails as they still glided on
through the orange glow.

_Boom_--_thud_! and Fitz literally jumped; the report, and its echo from
the mountain-backed shore, was so sudden and unexpected.

"Blank shot," said Poole, looking at the white smoke curling up from one
of the man-of-war's small guns.

"Order to heave-to," said Fitz; "and you will have to, or a ball will
come skipping along next."

"Yes, I suppose so," said Poole, "across our bows; and if we didn't stop
for that I suppose they would open fire with their big gun. Think they
could hit us?"

"I don't know about them," said Fitz, rather pompously, "but I know our
old _Tonans_ would send you to the bottom with her first shot."

"Then I'm glad it isn't the _Tonans_" said Poole, laughing. "Here, we
are not going to be sunk;" for in obedience to the summons the schooner
was thrown up into the wind, the big sails shivering in the soft breeze,
and gradually turning of a deeper orange glow. Meanwhile there was a
bustle going on aboard the gunboat, and an orange cutter manned by
orange men glided down into the sea. Then oars began to dip and at
every stroke threw up orange and gold. So beautiful was the scene that
Fitz turned from it for a moment to look westward for the source