"You did it in ignorance, no doubt, but in what you are doing you are offenders against the law, and may at any time be taken, and perhaps be strung up to the yardarm after a short trial. Certainly you will be severely punished." A low murmur of dissent, almost derision, came from the little knot of men, and one of them laughed. "You don't believe me," cried Fitz. "It is true. And now listen to what I say, one and all; I call upon you in the Queen's name to obey my orders, for I take possession of this schooner as an officer in Her Majesty's service. In the Queen's name!" There was a low murmur of mingled surprise and derision at this. "Silence, there!" cried Fitz. "I know that I am a very young officer to speak to you, but I am in the Queen's Navy, and I order you in Her Majesty's name to obey all my commands. I am going to sail at once for Kingston, where I have no doubt there will be a man-of-war on the station, and if you behave well I shall speak to the captain and get him to make it easy for you, but of course I shall give up the skipper and his son as prisoners." "Here, say something, Chips," growled one of the men; and the carpenter spoke out. "Say, squire, won't that be rather hard on them?" "Silence, sir! How dare you! That is not the way for a common sailor to address an officer." "Beg pardon, sir, but I am not a common sailor; I am a hartisan. Why, you know--the Chips." There was a titter here. "Attention!" roared Fitz. "This is no laughing matter, my lads. Perhaps each man's life, certainly his liberty, is at stake." "Ay, ay, sir!" came in a growl. "That's better," said Fitz. "Now, I don't want to be hard on you, my lads." "Hear, hear! Thank you, sir," cried the carpenter. "And I should be sorry to be harsh to any man; but once more, as an officer in the Royal Navy, I have got my duty to do, and I mean to do it." "Ay, ay, sir!" came again, in a low acquiescent growl. "But he needn't keep on a-telling us." "Those men who stand by me and do their duty in navigating this vessel shall have ample pay and reward." "What about prize-money, sir?" shouted a voice. "There'll be no prize-money." The men groaned. "But there will be reward in the shape of salvage, my lads. I, single-handed, have taken this schooner as a prize to the gunboat _Tonans_, commanded by Captain Glossop, whose officer I am. She will be condemned and sold, and those who help me loyally will have their reward. Now then, every man stand forward who is ready to do his duty by me." At that moment there was a sharp tapping heard from below. "What's that?" cried Fitz sharply, though he perfectly well knew. "It's the skipper, sir, a-opening his eyes, I think," said the carpenter. "You've woke him up, talking like that, and he's coming on deck with a pair of revolving bulldogs, to begin potting us all round. Here, who's coming below?" "Silence, sir; and keep your places."