But he still smoked on, and nothing happened to the boat, which had careened over at first and threatened to capsize, but only resumed her level trim and completely reversed her position, head taking the place of stern, so that to continue to watch the light the middy had to wrench himself completely round; and then he grasped the fact that the current had carried them right on to the anchor-chain where it dipped beneath the surface, before bearing them onward, still to swing at ease. The man who acted as coxswain--the Camel to wit--having leaned over, grasped the chain-cable and almost without a sound made fast the painter to one of the links. CHAPTER FIFTY. A DARING DEED. The brains of the other occupants of the boat had been as active as those of Fitz, and their owners had come to pretty well the same conclusion, as they all involuntarily lowered their heads and sat perfectly still listening, and hardly able to believe that the man who was smoking was not watching them and about to give the alarm. But the moments glided by and became minutes, while the silence on board the gunboat seemed painful. The perspiration stood upon Fitz's brow, forming drops which gradually ran together and then began to trickle down the sides of his nose, tickling horribly; but he dared not even raise his hand to wipe them away. By degrees, though, all became convinced that they could not be seen, and something in the way of relief came at the end of about a quarter of an hour, when all at once the cigar in the man's mouth glowed more brightly, and then brighter still as it made a rush through the air, describing a curve and falling into the sea, when the silence was broken by a hiss so faint that it was hardly heard, and by something else which was heard plainly. Some one, evidently the smoker, gave vent to a yawn, a Spanish yawn, no doubt, but as much like an English one as it could be. Then, just audible in the silence, there was the faint sound of feet, as of some one pacing up and down the deck, another yawn, and then utter silence once again. No one stirred in the gig; no one seemed to breathe; till at last Poole raised his hand to Fitz's shoulder, leaned closer till he could place his lips close to his companion's ear, and whispered softly-- "I think they've let the fires out. I've been watching where the funnel must be, and I haven't seen a spark come out." Fitz changed his position a little so as to follow his companion's example, and whispered in turn-- "Nor I neither, but I fancy I can see a quivering glow, and I've smelt the sulphur quite plainly." There was another pause, and Poole whispered-- "Think there's anybody on deck?" The answer came-- "If there is he must be asleep." "What about that chap who was smoking?" "I think after that last yawn he went below." "Then isn't it time we began?" Fitz whispered back--