At which Judith was so delighted that she went off into another fit of boasting more extravagant than the first. To have heard Judith talk then, you would have imagined her to be Boadicea, Joan of Arc and Moll Pitcher rolled into one. So passed the night in the cabin. Just before the dawn of day, Lieutenant Ethel came below to the captain and reported the chase within range of their lee-bow gun. “Fire a blank cartridge into her,” said the captain, immediately turning out. Britomarte and Judith overheard every word of this short interview; and Judith clapped her hands for joy, exclaiming: “Now they’re going to begin. Sure meself is happy as Paddy at Dunnybrook Fair. And, oh! that I was up on deck wid the seamen! Wouldn’t I——” “Boom-m-me!” thundered the cannon over the sea, with a report that shook the ship. With a violent bound, Judith leaped up, clapped her hands to her ears, and, shaking and screaming with the extremity of terror, hid her head in Britomarte’s lap. “Why, what’s the matter, Judith?” inquired Miss Conyers, as the sound rolled away. “Is this your heroism?” “S’int Pater and all the Holy Apostles! Mother Mary and all the blissid virgins!” gasped the panic-stricken girl. “Boom-m-me!” roared an answering gun from the chase. “Ow-oo!” screeched Judith, burying her head in Britmarte’s lap; “kiver me up! kiver me up! I’m kilt entirely!” But Miss Conyers started up, threw the girl off her knees, hurried on her clothes and hastened out into the cabin, where she met Justin leaving his stateroom. “The action has commenced!” exclaimed Britomarte. “Yes, dearest one. Stay where you are, I beseech you. You can do no good on deck,” urged Justin. “If I can do no good, I can at least risk my life with the others,” persisted Britomarte. “But to what end? Britomarte, you will not only do no good by going on deck, but you will do much harm by being in everybody’s way,” said Justin, bluntly. She looked intently in his face to see if he spoke in earnest, before she answered. “If that is so, I will stay here. But oh, how unwillingly.” And she sat down, only half resigned to her inactivity, and mediated how she could change it into good service. While they spoke, another shot was exchanged between the ships. Justin hurried up on deck. Everything there was in admirable order. None of the confusion that too often precedes an engagement appeared. The deck was cleared for action. The men were all at their quarters, the officers at their posts. The captain was standing on the quarter-deck, leveling his glass at the chase, which was, moreover, in full sight about two miles ahead. The firing ceased for the time being. “What is the meaning of this lull, captain?” respectfully inquired Justin Rosenthal, coming to the side of Captain Yetsom.