"But I take it that you would be willing to gratify your host," replied the Don loftily, "and it would please me much if you would stay." "But we must get back on board, sir," said Fitz anxiously. Then noticing the air of displeasure in the President's countenance, the middy added hastily, "There, sir, we will come back at once." They hurried down to the shore, where the schooner's gig was lying with her crew on board. "Well, I don't understand whatever you want," said Poole, "unless you have suddenly found out that because ladies are coming you ought to put on a clean shirt." "Get out!" cried Fitz; and then, assuming command of the boat, to Poole's great amusement, though he said nothing, Fitz gave orders to the men to give way and row them out to the gunboat. "Why, I thought you wanted to go to the _Teal_! Oh, I see. Well, it's very nice of you. You want us to go and take charge of the prize crew so as to let old Burgess go and have some tucker with the Don." "Nothing of the kind," said Fitz shortly. "What is it then?" said Poole. "What's the good of keeping things so close?" "Wait and see. I don't know yet myself." "Dear me!" said Poole. "I suppose his lordship has found out that he left his purse in the cabin." "Wrong," said Fitz. "It was only an old leather one if he had, with nothing in it. Can't you wait a few minutes till I see if I am right?" "Oh, yes, I'll wait; only too glad to get away while the other people come. I say, Fitz, old chap, let's be as long as we can. I do hate all that fuss. It makes me feel so weak." "Yes; I don't like it. That's the worst of foreigners. They are so fond of show. I say, Poole, old chap, I've got such a grand idea." "What is it?" "Wait and see." "Now, just you look here," said Poole; "you can't say but what I'm a good-tempered sort of fellow, but if there's much more of this you'll put me out. I'm not a little child, and you are not playing at bob-cherry, so leave off dangling nothing before my lips and then snatching it away." "Ah, you wait and see," said Fitz. Just then, as Poole turned upon him irritably, the gig touched the gunboat's side, and the boys sprang on board, to be greeted by the mate and the members of the prize crew, who had moored her well under the guns of the little fort. "Hullo, young fellows! I know what you want," cried the mate. "Then you are cleverer than I am," said Poole, laughing, "for I don't." "Then why have you come?" "Ask Burnett here. He seems to be Grand Panjandrum now." "You've come," said the mate, "by the President's orders, to bring me ashore to drink wine and eat cake, or some nonsense of that kind, and you may go back and tell him I can't leave my post." "Wrong," said Fitz; and he hurried away forward, to come into sight again waving his hand to Poole to join him. "Whatever's the matter with the fellow?" said Poole to himself, as he followed the middy.