f from where there's people to take care of them with rifles, and
then they can pick off just what they like. But they don't care much
about big bullock. They've got tasty ideas of their own, same as crocs
have. What they likes is horse, and the horses knows it too, poor
beggars! It's been hard work to hold them sometimes--my governor's
horse, you know, as he hunted on; and I've heard them sigh and groan as
if with satisfaction when the governor's fired with his big double
breech-loader and sent the lions off with their tails trailing behind
and leaving a channel among their footprints in the sand. I've seen it,
Mr Burnett, next morning, and I know."

"All right, Chips," cried Poole. "We won't laugh at you and your yarns.
But now look here; there must be no more chaff. This is serious work."

"All right, sir," said the man good-humouredly, as he wiped his dripping
face. "No one can't say as I aren't working--not even old Butters."

"No, no," said Poole hastily. "You are working well."

"And no one can't say, sir, as I've got my grumbling stop out, which I
do have sometimes," he added, with a broad grin, "and lets go a bit."

"You do, Chips; but I want you to understand that this is a very serious
bit of business we are on."

"O!"

A very large, round, thoughtful _O_, and the man hauled steadily away,
nodding his head the while.

"Serous, eh? Then you aren't going fishing?"

"Fishing, no!"

"Then it's something to do with the gunboat?"

"Don't ask questions," cried Poole. "Be satisfied that we are going on
a very serious expedition, and we want you to help us all you can."

"Of course, my lads. Shall I want my tools?"

"No."

The man was silent for a few moments, looking keenly from one to the
other, and then at the rope, before giving his leg a sharp slap, and
whispering with his face full of animation--

"Why, you're going to steal aboard the gunboat in the dark, and make
fast one end of this 'ere rope to that there big pocket-pistol, so as we
can haul her overboard. But no, lads, it can't be done. But even if it
could it would only stick fast among them coral rocks that lie off
yonder."

"And what would that matter, so long as we got it overboard?"

"Ah, I never thought of that. But no, my lad; you may give that up. It
couldn't be done."

"Well, it isn't going to be done," said Fitz sharply; "and now let's
have no more talk. But mind this--Mr Poole and I don't want you to say
an