board the gunboat mayn't see us now, with our
bare poles; and even if they could make us out they wouldn't be able to
distinguish us from the other craft lying close in shore."

"Right," said Poole sharply. "I was getting impatient. I suppose we
are going to run out through the darkness, same as we did before."

"I hope not," said Fitz meaningly. "Once was enough for a scrape like
that."

Poole grunted, with agreement in his cones, and then they leaned over
the bulwarks together forward, following the example of most of the men,
who were just as keenly on the look-out, and growing as excited in the
expectation of the coming adventure, all but two, who, in obedience to a
growl from the mate, lowered down the dinghy and then pulled her
hand-over-hand by the mooring-cable to where it was made fast to the big
ring in the buoy; and there they held on, ready to slip the minute the
order was given from the deck.

Meanwhile the rejoicings were going on ashore, no one so far having
become aware of the approach of the enemy, till she was well clear of
the headland, with her smoke floating out like an orange-plume upon a
golden sky.

"There's the signal," cried Fitz suddenly, as a ball of smoke darted out
from the front of the fort, followed by a dull thud.

"Hah!" said Poole. "That's like the snap of a mongrel pup. By and by
perhaps we shall hear the gunboat speak with a big bark like a mastiff.
I wonder whether they will make us out."

"So do I," said Fitz.

"It will be easy enough to sneak off if they don't."

"Don't say sneak," said Fitz.

"Why?"

"It sounds so cowardly."

"Well, this isn't the _Tonans_. The _Teal_ was made to sail, not to
fight."

"Yes, of course," said Fitz; "but I don't like it all the same."

"All right, then, I won't say it again. I wonder where the dad will
make for."

"Well, that will depend on whether the gunboat sights us. I say, does
it make you feel excited?"

"Yes, awfully. I seem to want to be doing something."

"So do I," said Fitz, "instead of watching the sun go down so slowly."

"Look at the gunboat, then. She's not moving slowly. My word, she is
slipping through the water! Why, she's bound to see us if it don't soon
get dark."

The boys lapsed into silence, and as they ceased speaking they were
almost startled by the change that had taken place on shore.

The shouting and singing had ceased; there was no sound of music, and
the bells had left off their c