, and coil it in the bottom so that it will take up as
little room as possible, and not be in the men's way."

"What men's way?" said the boatswain. "Chips, Harry Smith, the Camel,
and Dick Boulter," said Poole.

"Ho!" grunted the boatswain, and he took off his cap and began to
scratch his head, staring at both in turn. "Whose orders?" he grunted,
at last. "I just seen Mr Burgess, and he never said a word."

"The skipper's orders," cried Poole.

"Ho!" said the boatswain again. "Well, that's good enough for me," and
he stood staring at them.

"Well, get the men together and see about the rope," cried Poole.

"What's your game? Going to take the end out to a steam-tug, or is the
gunboat going to tow us out to sea?"

"Don't ask questions, please. It's private business of the skipper's,
under the orders of Mr Burnett and me."

"Ho! All right, my lad; only oughtn't I to know what we are going to
do? You are going off somewhere in the boat, eh?"

"Yes, that's right."

"And I'm not to come?"

"Oh, but you are," cried Poole, "and I've told you the men I've picked
for the job. Don't you think it's a good crew?"

"Middling," said the boatswain grudgingly. "Might be better; might be
wuss. But look here, young fellow; I don't like working in the dark."

"I am sorry for you," said Fitz, "for this will be an all-night job."

"Then I'd better take my nightcap," said the boatswain quietly. "But
what's up? Are you going to make fast to the gunboat and tow her in?"

"You know we are not," replied Poole.

"Well, I did think it was rather an unpossible sort of job. But hadn't
you better be open and above-board with a man, and say what it all
means?"

"It means that you and the other men are under the orders of Mr Burnett
and me, and that we look to you to do your best over what's going to be
a particular venture. You'll know soon enough. Till then, please
wait."

"All right," said the boatswain. "I'm your man. For the skipper
wouldn't have given you these orders if it wasn't square;" saying which
the man walked off to rouse up the little crew, all but the Camel, whom
he left to his regular work in the galley. "We shan't want him yet,"
said Butters, as the boys followed him. "Had he better get us some
rations to take with us?"

"Oh no," said Poole. "We oughtn't to be away more than three or four
hours if we are lucky."

"Why, this 'ere gets mysteriouser and mysteriouser," grumbled the
boatswain