The two lads remained silent for a few moments, watching the sleeper, and then Poole looked full in his companion's eyes and slowly took out the revolver which he had thrust into his breast, before raising the hammer and bringing the cartridge-extractor to bear so that one after another the charges were thrust out, each to fall with a soft tap upon the cabin-table, after which the chambers were carefully wiped out, and the weapon put back into a holster close to the head of the berth, the cartridges being dropped into the little pouch attached to the belt. When all was done, steadily watched by Fitz the while, Poole raised his eyes to his companion once again. "Shall we do as you and father did just now?" he asked. "Yes," said Fitz slowly and sadly, "if you will." "Will?--Of course!" The two lads shook hands. CHAPTER SIXTEEN. LAND HO! Two days passed, during which time Fitz kept to his cabin, and towards evening Poole came down, to find the middy seated with his back to the door gazing through the cabin-window at what seemed to be a beautiful blue cloud low-down on the horizon. "Hullo!" cried Poole cheerily. "You can see it, then?" "Yes," said Fitz, without looking round. "That's land, I suppose." "Yes, that's one of the islands; but look here, what's the good of going on like this?" "If I choose to sit at my prison-window and look out for the islands, I suppose I have a right to do so," said Fitz coldly. "I say, take care. Recollect you have not quite got your strength up again. Mind you don't fall." "May I inquire what you mean?" said Fitz haughtily. "Of course. I mean, take care you don't tumble off the stilts now you have got on to them again." "Bah!" ejaculated the boy. "Well, what's the good of going on like that, sulking and pretending you are a prisoner?" "There's no pretence in that," said Fitz bitterly. "Yes, there is," retorted Poole quickly. "It's all shammon and gam--I mean, gammon and sham. You are no more a prisoner than I am. Why, even father says you seem to be riding the high horse. I suppose you do feel a bit awkward about coming on deck amongst the men, after going through that--I mean, after what happened." "Oh, say it!" cried Fitz angrily. "After going through that performance, you meant." "I am not going to argue and fence. Look here, you have got to face the men, so why not make a plunge and do it? You think the lads will be winking and exchanging glances and whispering to one another, when all the time there's only one body on board the _Teal_ who gives all that business a thought, and that's you. Tchah! Sailors have no time to think about what's past. They have always got to keep a sharp look-out for the rocks ahead. You are such a sensitive chap. Come on up, and let's have a turn at fishing." "Is your father quite well again?" said Fitz, without heeding his companion's proposal. "Oh yes; that was only one of his fits. They come and go." "And how's Mr Burgess?"