and old Butters."

"Well, don't make such a rigmarole of it all, Chips," cried Poole.
"What's your big reason?"

"Well, sir, it's just this 'ere," said the carpenter solemnly. "I'll be
blessed if I know it myself."

"Bah!" cried Poole angrily.

"What I want is clean decks, with all them there trash cleared away, and
time for me and the bosun having the craft to ourselves just to go round
and smell it all over before we begin."

"Of course," cried Poole.

"You see, it's a big job, gentlemen, and it's no use for us to roosh it.
What I want is for us to be able to lay this 'ere boat aboard, and
leave to begin. I want room, sir, and to see what tools I want, and--"

"Ahoy there, Mr Poole!" came from the next boat. "Let your men give
way and follow me. I am going to board the gunboat now, and put a prize
crew on board."

"Ay, ay, sir," cried Poole; and then to the carpenter, who sat
moistening his hands prior to giving them a rub on his knees, "There you
are, Chips. Give way, my lads. We are going to make fast a tow-rope to
the gunboat's stern. Keep your eyes open, and you will see how Chips
will haul her off."

There was another laugh as the men bent to their oars, rowing so
vigorously that several of the small craft full of Don Ramon's
followers, hanging round the ponderous-looking craft upon the rocks,
hurriedly made way as if half expecting to be run down, and a few
minutes later the schooner's boats, headed by Mr Burgess, were
alongside their late dangerous enemy, to spring on board, the Spanish
crew drawing back to the other side to crowd together and look
carelessly on, all idea of resistance being at an end.

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX.

WINKS'S LUCK.

Neither Fitz nor Poole had felt any desire to pose as the heroes of the
little night attack, which had resulted in the disabling of the armoured
man-of-war, but it was with a strange feeling of exultation that they
climbed on board in the full sunshine, eager as they were to stand once
more upon the decks, and see in the broad daylight what the vessel was
like into which they had climbed in the darkness of the night.

Fitz's first thought as he passed through the gangway was to make for
the great gun that stood amidships upon its iron platform and revolving
carriage, the huge muzzle elevated, and looking ready to hurl its great
shells far and wide; but he had to wait and stand with the schooner's
men drawn up while the prisoners and volunteers who h