's right in front, but whether
we are south'ard or north'ard of where the schooner lays is more than I
can tell, and there's some awkward surf upon some of the rocks of this
'ere coast. Will you give your orders, please."

"Well, I don't know that I can," replied Fitz. "I think the best thing
is to lie-to till daylight. What do you say, Poole?" he continued, from
his position to where Poole was, right forward.

"Same as you do," was the reply. "It's impossible to make for the river
now. We may be only getting farther away."

"Just keep her head on to the swell, my lads."

The next minute the gig began riding gently over the long smooth waves,
while her occupants sat watching the gunboat, the only light from which
now was the glow from the funnel.

"Bit wet, aren't you, Mr Burnett, sir?" said Chips. "What do you say
to taking off two or three things and letting me give them a wring?"

"Ah, it would be as well," replied Fitz, beginning at once to slip off
his jacket, and as if instinctively to take off attention from what he
was doing he began to question Poole.

"You had better do the same, hadn't you?" he cried.

"Doing it," was the reply. "I say, are you all right?"

"No; I am so horribly wet. What about you?"

"Just the same, of course."

"But I say," said Fitz, who was calming down after the excitement; "why
didn't you come on and help?"

"How could I? One of those fellows lying on the deck threw a leg and an
arm over me in his sleep. I just brushed against him, and he started as
if I had touched a spring, and held me fast. I tried to get away, but
it was of no use, and if I had shouted it would have only given the
alarm. I didn't get loose till the row began, and then there was
nothing to do but come overboard and be picked up. I was in a way about
you."

"Same here about you," cried fitz. "I didn't know what had happened,
and when I tumbled over the rail--I didn't jump--I felt as if I had left
you in the lurch."

"Well, but that's what I felt," said Poole. "It was queer."

"It made us all feel pretty tidy queer, young gentlemen," said the
boatswain; "but if I may speak, the fust question is, are either of you
hurt?"

"I am not," cried Fitz.

"Nor I," said Poole.

"That's right, then," said the boatswain gruffly. "Now then, what about
that there block of iron? Was it that as come over plosh, only about a
yard from the boat's nose?"

"Yes," cried Fitz excitedly.

"Then all