k upon it as so much impudence, coming from
me."

"I dunno," said Fitz. "Here he comes. Try."

"Here, you two," said the skipper, coming close up to them; "I have a
nice little job for you. Take four men, Poole, and drop down in a boat
cautiously. Don't be seen, and get down to where you can watch the
gunboat till dark, and then come back here and report what you have made
out. Of course if they make any movement you come back directly and let
me know."

These orders put all farther scheming out of the lads' heads, and a very
short time afterwards Poole had selected Chips and three other men, and
the boat was gliding down with the current, each bend being cautiously
rounded in the expectation of the enemy being seen once more ascending
the river. But the last headland was passed with the boat kept well
under shelter of the overhanging growth, and the open sea lay before
them; and there, about two miles away, and exactly opposite the mouth of
the river, lay the gunboat with a film of smoke rising from her funnel,
indicating that steam was being kept up, while by means of the glass
that this time had not been left behind, they could plainly make out
that she was lying at anchor, keeping watch upon the shore.

"There," said Poole, "I'll be bound to say she's just at the mouth of
the channel by which we came in, and as close as she dare come. We
should look nice sailing down nearer and nearer to her. Bah! We should
never get half-way there."

"Well, what's to be done?" said Fitz.

"What we were told. Make ourselves comfortable till the sun's just
beginning to go down, and then get back as quickly as we can.--Make her
fast, my lads, with the painter--there, to that branch, only so that we
can slip off in a minute, for we may have to go in a hurry at any time."

This was done, and they watched and waited in silence, keeping well out
of sight behind the shrubby growth, from the knowledge that the mouth of
the river was certain to be carefully scanned by those on board the
gunboat with their glasses.

"Looks to me," observed Poole, "as if they mean to tire us out."

"Oh yes, sir, that's it," said Chips. "I wish I had brought my tools
with me."

"Why?" said Poole, who was glad to break the monotony of their watch by
a chat with the men.

"Oh, it's as well to make the most use of your time, sir. Looks to me
as if the Don Captain had taken a lease of that pitch and meant to stay;
and under the suckumstanc