Things were done promptly on board the _Teal_, and in a few moments the cutter was lowered down with its little crew after the netting had been cast loose and raised; and then they watched her glide down with the stream, stern on, with the rowers balancing their oars, the stroke dipping his now and then to keep her head to stream, and the mate standing with his back to them till the headland was reached, when he knelt down, caught at the overhanging bushes and water-plants, and let the boat drift close in and on and on without making a sign, till she disappeared. Just then Fitz heaved a sigh. "What's the matter, old chap?" said Poole. "Oh, we shall have nothing to do but wait now, perhaps for hours, for I expect the enemy has gone right back to the gunboat, and waiting is a thing I do thoroughly hate. Eh? Is that you, Camel?" "Andy Cawmell it is, sir. A'm thenking that it would be joost a good time for a wee bit food. Ah've been watching Mr Burnett here, and the puir laddie looks quite white and faint. Would you mind telling the skipper that I've got a wee bit hot dinner a' ready? and if he will gi'e the word I'll have it in the cabin in less time than Duncan Made-Hose took his pinch of sneeshin." "Well done, Camel!" cried Poole, who darted to his father, leaving the cook blinking and smiling at Fitz, who looked at him in admiration. "Why, Camel," he said, "you are a deal too clever for a ship's cook, and I don't know what I owe you for all you have done for me." "Oh, joost naething at all, laddie." "Nothing! I want to make you a big present when I can." "You do, laddie? Vairy weel, and I'll tell you what I'd like. Ye'll just gi'e me one of them quarter-poond tins of Glasgie sneeshin." "Snuff!" said Poole contemptuously. "Ay, laddie; snuff, as ye call it. Nay, don't turn your nose up at sneeshin. Ye should turn it down. Thenk of what it is to a man condemned to get naething but a bit of dirty black pigtail tobaccy that he has to chew like the lads do in their barbarous way. Ye'll mind that: a four-ounce tin of the rale Glasgie." "Oh, but--" "Nay, nay, laddie. That'll make us square. Now then, what's the young skipper got to say?" "The sooner the better, Camel, for he's half-starved; but you are to keep a bit hot for Mr Burgess." "Ou, ay," said the Camel, smiling. "I never forget the mate. He wadna let me if I would." The two lads watched anxiously for the return of the boat, but in vain, and then, in answer to the summons, went reluctantly below as far as their minds were concerned, but with wondrous willingness on the part of their bodies, to join the skipper over a capital meal, which was hastily discussed, and then the trio went on deck to where the men were keeping watch, and ordered them to go below. "Get your dinner, lads, as quickly as you can, and then come up again. We'll keep watch until you do."