"Thought he was going to snap my head off," he mattered, as he began to walk up and down, noticing sundry little preparations that were in progress in connection with one of the quarter-boats, in which, as she swung from the davits, a couple of the smart, barefooted sailors, whose toes looked very pink in the chill air, were overhauling and re-arranging oars, and the little mast, yard and sail, none of which needed touching, for everything was already in naval apple-pie order. Fitz Burnett ended his walk by stopping and looking on. "Going along with us, sir?" said one of the sailors. "Yes," said the lad shortly, and sharply enough to have satisfied his superior if he had overheard. "That's right, sir," said the man, so earnestly that the boy looked pleased. "Know where we are going, sir?" the other man ventured to ask. "Is it likely?" was the reply; "and if I did know do you suppose that I would tell you?" "No, sir, of course not. But it's going to be something desperate, sir, because we have got to take all our tools." "Ah, you'll see soon enough," said the boy, and full of the importance of being one in some expedition that was to break the monotony of the everyday routine, as well as to avoid further questioning, and any approach to familiarity on the part of the men, Fitz continued his walk, to come in contact directly after with another superior officer in the shape of the lieutenant. "Hullo, Mr Burnett! So you are to go with us to-night, I hear." "Yes, sir," cried the boy eagerly. "Would you mind telling me what we are going to do?" "Then you don't know?" "No, sir." "Then why did you ask the captain to let you go?" "I wanted to be there, sir. Armed boat's crew going off! It sounded so exciting." "I don't think that you will find much excitement, Mr Burnett; but wait and see. If you want more information I must refer you to the captain." This last was accompanied by a nod and a good-humoured smile, as the officer moved away to look at the boat, but turned his head to add-- "Better put on a warm jacket; I dare say we shall have a cold night's work." "I don't care," said the boy to himself. "Anything for a change. I do get so tired of this humdrum steaming here and steaming there, and going into port to fill up the coal-bunkers. Being at sea isn't half so jolly as I used to think it was, and it is so cold. Wish we could get orders to sail to one of those beautiful countries in the East Indies, or to South America--anywhere away from these fogs and rains. Why, we haven't seen the sun for a week."