carpenter became serious directly, frowned severely, laid his
coxswain's boat-hook across his knees, and took off his straw hat to
give his dewy forehead a couple of wipes with his bare mahogany-brown
arms.

"Yes, gentlemen," he said, "that's a big handful for one man, and I feel
a bit staggered, and get thinking every now and then that it was the
biggest bit of cheek I ever showed in my life."

"What was?" said Fitz.

"What was, sir? Why, to say that I would get that there vessel off them
rocks. There are times when I feel skeered, and ready to tuck my tail
between my legs and run away like a frightened dog."

"You!" cried Fitz, and the two lads laughed heartily.

"Ah, it's all very fine, gentlemen, you are on the right side. You
aren't got it to do. I have, and if I was to try and laugh now it would
be on the other side of my mouth."

"Get out," said Poole, "you'll do it right enough. Won't he, Fitz?"

"Of course."

"Think so, gentlemen?"

"To be sure we do," cried Fitz. "You'll do it, Chips. Go in and win."

"Thank you, sir," said the man, rather sadly. "I did say I'd do it,
didn't I?"

"To be sure you did."

"Well then, of course I must try."

"To be sure you must," cried Fitz. "Why, you'll be able to do it in
broad daylight with nobody to interrupt you."

"So I shall, Mr Burnett, sir. It won't be like swarming up her side in
the dark, expecting a couple of dozen of them half-bred niggers to come
at you with their long knives ready to pitch you overboard. Here: I am
glad you talked. I was getting all in the downs like over that job,
when it aren't half so 'ard as for a young gent like you to swarm up
that anker, that very _one_ yonder as is hanging from the cat-head now,
and then taking out that breech-block and--"

"There, that will do," cried Fitz, turning scarlet; "I don't want to
hear any more about that. I say, Chips, how do you mean to begin?"

The carpenter screwed his face up into a very cunning smile.

"Like me to tell you, sir?"

"Of course," cried the boys in a breath.

"Well," said the carpenter, "you are both very pleasant young gents as
has allus been good friends to me, and I'd tell you in a minute but for
one reason."

"You don't want your messmates to know your plans?" said Fitz quickly.

"Oh no, sir, it's a bigger reason than that. You see, it's just like
this 'ere. I'll tell you, only don't let 'em know in the other boat.
You see there's Mr Burgess yonder,