at would be a very good plan, Mr. Ferguson, and as you have proposed
it, you shall take command of the boat; otherwise I should have sent
either the third lieutenant or Morrison. I need not say that it will be
necessary to use the greatest caution, and to avoid all risks as much
as possible, though I fancy that my gig would run away from any of the
ordinary native craft; but, of course, the great point is to avoid being
noticed, for were one of our boats seen up the other river near the
creek, the alarm would be given, and the prahus might at once shift
their position, and make up the river, where we should have little
chance of finding them again."

"I quite understand that, sir, and will be as careful as possible. I
will take one of the midshipmen with me, either Mr. Parkhurst or Mr.
Balderson; if the worst came to the worst and one of the men were hit,
he could man his oar, or, if I were myself badly wounded, could take the
command. I think it is Balderson's turn for boat duty."

"Either of them will do," the captain said; "they are both strong,
active lads, and as steady as you can expect lads to be."

Accordingly, at four in the afternoon the captain's gig was lowered. As
the rule was that all men on boat duty should go armed no surprise had
been excited when the order was given for the men to take their muskets
and cutlasses, though, when an extra supply of ammunition and a brace of
pistols were served out to each, they thought that something unusual was
in the wind, and there was a grin on the men's faces when a hamper of
provisions was placed in the bow of the boat. Dick was in a state of
high but suppressed delight when informed by the first lieutenant that
he was to accompany him on a boat expedition, and that he had better
take his cloak with him, as they might be out all night.

"You can take your pistols with you, Mr. Balderson; it is not likely
that they will be wanted, but it is as well to carry them."

Dick borrowed a cutlass from the armorer and ground it down to a razor
edge, for his dirk was an altogether useless weapon if it came to
fighting. He was the more convinced that something more than usual was
intended when he saw the assistant surgeon place a parcel in the stern
sheets.

"Bandages, I expect," he said. "Where do you think we can be going,
Harry?"

"Perhaps you are going up the creek again, Dick. Who's going in
command?"

"I have not heard. Morrison says he has not been told off, so