nd then a broad joke or a loud laugh burst from the lips of the more
excited among them. But there was no Dutch courage exhibited. One and
all showed the most determined and coolest bravery. The officers whose
duty it was to be on the main-deck kept going their rounds, to see that
the men were at their stations, and that all were supplied with powder
and shot and all things necessary. Then the first-lieutenant, Mr
Order, came down.

"My lads," he exclaimed, "the captain sends to you to say that we have,
perhaps, tough work before us; but that he is sure you all will do your
duty like men, and will help him to thrash the enemy, as he hopes to do
by daylight, when he can see them better."

A loud cheer rang out from the throats of the seamen, fore and aft. Mr
Order felt satisfied that they were in the right temper for work. He
returned again on deck. It was still very dark, and nothing could be
seen through the open ports. Every now and then, however, the crest of
a sea washed in and deluged the decks, washing from side to side till it
could escape through the scuppers. Any moment the order to fire might
be heard, or the shot of the enemy might come crashing through the
sides. It was a trying time for old salts, who had fought in many a
previous battle; much more so for young hands. Paul sat composedly on
his tub. Not far off from him stood Gilbert Devereux, in command of a
division of guns.

"If a shot were to take his head off, there would be one of our enemies
out of the way," thought Paul; but directly afterwards his conscience
rebuked him. "No, no; that is a wicked feeling," it said; "I would
rather be killed myself, if it were not for my poor mother and all at
home--they would be so sorry."

Still, Paul could not help eyeing the aristocratic-looking young
midshipman, who, with a firm, proud step, trod the deck, eager for the
fight, and little aware that he was watched with so much interest by the
humble ship's boy. Peter Bruff, who had the next division of guns under
his charge, came up to Gilbert.

"Well, Devereux, how do you like this fun?" he asked. "Have you ever
before been engaged?"

"Never; but I like the idea of the sport well enough to wish to begin,"
answered Devereux. "Where are our enemies?"

"Not far off, and they will not disappoint us," answered Bruff. "We
shall have pretty tough work of it, depend on that."

"The tougher the better," answered Devereux, in a somewhat affected