rected at the foremost boat,
and with such terrible effect that in the midst of a scene of confusion
the oars were dropped and the boat swung round broadside to the stream,
which carried it on to the next boat, fouling it so that the two hung
together and confusion became worse confounded as they crashed on to the
third boat, putting a stop to the firing as well as the rowing. The
commands of the officer in the last boat were of no effect, and the
defenders of the schooner, who had sprung to their positions where their
efforts would have been of most avail, burst forth with a wild cheer,
and then turned to the skipper for orders to fire again.

But these orders did not come, for their captain had turned to the mate
with--

"Why, Burgess, that's done it! I believe we've given them enough."
Then heartily, "Well done, boys! Give 'em another cheer."

In their wild excitement and delight the schooner's crew gave two; and
they had good cause for their exultation, for the firing from the boats
had quite ceased, the efforts of their commanders being directed towards
disentangling themselves from their sorry plight, many minutes elapsing
before the boats were clear and the men able to row, while by this time
several hundred yards had been placed between them and the object of
their attack.

Then the Spanish officers gave their orders to advance almost
simultaneously; but they were not obeyed.

They raged and roared at their men, but in vain--the boats were still
drifting down stream towards the bend, and as the darkness was giving
its first sign of closing in, the last one disappeared, the skipper
saying quietly--

"Thank you, my lads. It was bravely done."

A murmur rose from among the men, only one speaking out loudly; and that
was the carpenter, who, as he took off his cap and wiped his streaming
forehead, gave Fitz a comic look and said--

"Well, yes; I think we made a neat job of that."

Some of the men chuckled, but their attention was taken off directly by
the boatswain, who shouted--

"Here, you Camel, don't wait for orders, but get the lads something to
peck at and drink. I feel as if I hadn't had anything to eat for a
week."

"Yes, and be quick," cried the skipper. "It's all right, my lads; I
don't think we shall see the enemy again."

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.

"OF COURSE WE WILL."

The next morning reconnoitring began once more, prior to the skipper
giving his orders, and the schooner dropping