acking party's heads, until the whole of the six chambers were empty,
and with the effect of making the Republican sailors cease rowing, while
their boats drifted with the current, rapidly increasing the distance.

The order to fire from the boats did not come, but the second boat
closed up to the first, and a loud and excited colloquy arose, there
being evidently a difference of opinion between the leaders, one officer
being for another attack; the second--so the skipper interpreted it from
such of the words as he could catch--being for giving up and going back
to the gunboat for advice.

And all the time, both boats still in confusion drifted farther and
farther away; but at last the fiery leader of the first gained the day;
his fellow gave up, and when the order was given to advance once more in
the first boat he supplemented it in the second, and a low deep murmur
rose up.

"Why, Fitz," whispered Poole, "they have had enough of it. The mongrels
won't come on."

"Think so?" whispered back Fitz, gazing excitedly over the stern, while
Poole's fingers were busy thrusting in fresh cartridges till his
revolver chambers were full.

"Yes, it's plain enough," cried Poole, for the voices of the officers
could be heard angrily threatening and abusing their men; but all in
vain.

There was the appearance of struggles going on, and in one boat the sun
flashed two or three times from the blade of a sword as it was raised in
the air and used as a weapon of correction, its owner striking viciously
at his mutinous men.

"Ah!" ejaculated Fitz. "That's done it. They are more afraid of him
than they are of us--of you, I mean. They are coming on again."

For the oars were dipping, making the water foam once more, as the crews
in both the boats began to pull with all their might. But only half;
the others backed water, and directly after the boats' heads had been
turned and they were being rowed back as hard as they would go, till
they disappeared round the first bend to the tune of a triumphant cheer
given in strong chorus by every man upon the _Teal_.

Just at that moment Fitz clapped one hand to his cheek, for it felt hot,
consequent upon the thought having struck him, that in his excitement he
had been cheering too. That burning sensation was the result of a hint
from his conscience that such conduct was not creditable to a young
officer in the Royal Navy.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

THE CAMEL'S DEMAND.

The nets w