of the sea was like a mirror, with only cat's-paws here and there; and
the gunboat came pounding on as stern as fate.

"All right," said the mate cheerily; "it's coming again," and he ran to
the man at the wheel.

"Stand by, my lads," cried the skipper, "ready to let go those stuns'ls.
We mustn't be taken again like that."

The men rushed to the sheets, and when the wind came again, it came to
stay, striking the heavily-canvassed schooner a tremendous blow, to
which she only careened over, and not a drop of water came on board, for
the light studding-sails were let go to begin flapping and snapping like
whip-thongs until the violence of the gust had passed; and by that time
the men were busy reducing the canvas, and the schooner was flying
through the water like the winning yacht in a race.

"Never say die!" cried Poole, with a laugh. "We are going faster than
the gunboat now."

"Yes," replied Fitz thoughtfully; "but she has the command of the sea,
and can cut us off."

"As long as her coals last," said Poole, "and they're burning them
pretty fast over this. I'd give something to guess what old Burgess
means to do. He's got something in his head that I don't believe my
father knows."

"Oh, he'd be sure to know," said Fitz, whose hopes were rising fast, his
sympathies being entirely now with those who had proved such friends.

"Oh, no, he wouldn't. Old Burgess can be as mute as a fish when he
likes, and there's nothing pleases him better than taking people by
surprise."

"But what can he do more than race right away?"

"Well, I'll tell you, Burnett, old chap. It's no use for him to think
of racing right away. What he'll do is this. I have said something of
the kind to you before. He knows this coast just like his ABC, the bays
and rivers and backwaters and crannies all amongst the rocks. He's
spent days and days out in a boat sounding and making rough charts; and
what he'll do, I feel certain, is this--make for some passage in amongst
the rocks where he can take the little _Teal_, run right in where the
gunboat dare not come, and stay there till she's tired out."

"But then they'll sink us with their gun."

"Oh no; he'll get her right into shelter where she can't be seen."

"Then the gunboat captain will send after us with his armed boats and
board us where we lie."

"Let him," said Poole grimly. "That's just what old Burgess and all the
lads would like. Mr Don what's-his-name and his men wou