sky, with
those gorgeous clouds! Look at the river, reflecting all their
beauties! And the trees and shrubs, looking darker in the shades, and
in the light as if they had suddenly burst forth into bloom with
dazzling golden flowers. And here we are going to spoil everything with
savage bloodshed."

"We are not, Captain Reed," said Fitz sharply; "you would not fire a
shot if you were not obliged."

"Not even a blank cartridge, my boy," said the skipper, laying his hand
upon the middy's shoulder. "I loathe it, and I feel all of a shiver at
the thought of my brave lads being drilled with bullets or hacked with
knives. If it comes to it--and I am afraid it will--"

"I say, father, don't talk of trembling and being afraid!" said Poole
reproachfully.

"Why not, my boy?"

"Because I don't know what Fitz Burnett will think."

"Whatever he thinks he'll know that I am speaking the truth. But I say,
lad," continued the skipper, gripping the middy's shoulder tightly;
"you'll help me, won't you?"

"Haven't I forgotten myself enough, sir?" said Fitz, in a tone as full
of reproach as that of Poole.

"No, my boy. I think you have behaved very bravely; and I don't think,
if your superior officer knew all, that he would have much to say. But
I don't want you to fight. I mean, help me after the trouble's over; I
mean, turn assistant-surgeon when I take off my jacket."

"Yes, that I will," cried Fitz. "I ought to be getting ready some
bandages and things now."

"Oh, I think I've got preparations enough of that sort made," said the
skipper; "and there is still a chance that we may not want them. Hah!
That hope's gone. Ahoy! bosun! Let them have the pipe."

Old Butters's silver whistle rang out shrill and clear, but only called
one man to his duty, and that was the Camel, who came tumbling out of
the galley and gave the door a bang.

Every one else was on the alert, watching a boat coming round the bend,
followed by two more, crowded with armed men whose oars sent the water
splashing up like so much liquid gold. The fight began at once, for the
skipper had given his instructions.

These he supplemented now with a sharp order which was followed by the
crack of a rifle echoing from cliff to cliff, and Fitz, who had run
towards the stern to look over, was in time to see that the skipper's
comment, "Good shot, my lad!" was well deserved, for one of the officers
in the stern-sheets of the first boat sprang up and w