"Oh, he will, father. I'll answer for that," cried Poole. "Answer for yourself, my boy. That's enough for you to do. Let Mr Burnett give me his own assurance. It would be rather mean, wouldn't it, Mr Burnett, if you did betray us?" "Yes, sir; horrible," cried Fitz quickly. "But if it were one of our ships I should be obliged." "Of course," said the skipper; "but as it is you will hold your tongue?" "Yes, sir; I shall look on." "That's right. Now then," continued the skipper, "the game's going to begin. There is sure to be some firing, so keep well down under the shelter of the bulwarks. Of course they will never have a chance to take aim, but there is no knowing what a random shot may do." "Want me to do anything, father?" said Poole eagerly. "No, my boy. There is nothing you can do. It will all lie with Mr Burgess; Butters, who will be at the wheel; myself, and the men who trim the sails." "You are going to sail right away then; eh, father?" "That all depends, my boy--just as the chances come." "But as the schooner draws so little water, sir," said Fitz eagerly, "won't you sail close in under the shore?" "No, my lad. That's just what the enemy will expect, and have every boat out on the _qui vive_. I don't mind telling you now what my plans will be." He was silent for a few minutes, and they dimly made out that he was holding up his left hand as a warning to them not to speak, while he placed his right behind his ear and seemed to be listening, as if he heard some sound. "Boat," he said, at last, in a whisper, "rowing yonder right across our stern. But they didn't make us out. Oh, I was about to tell you what I meant to do. Run right by the gunboat as closely as I can without touching her, for it strikes me that will be the last thing that they will expect." He moved away the next moment, leaving the boys together once again, to talk in whispers about the exciting episode that was to come. "I say, Fitz," whispered Poole excitedly, "isn't this better than being on board your sleepy old _Tonans_?" "You leave the sleepy old _Tonans_ alone," replied the middy. "She's more lively than you think." "Could be, perhaps; but you never had a set-out like this." "No," said Fitz stiffly, "because the _Tonans_ never runs away." "That's one for me," said Poole, laughing. "There are times when you must run, my lad, and this is one. Hullo, they're shaking out more canvas. It's going to be yachting now like a race for a cup. It's 'bout ship too." "Yes, by the way one can feel the wind," replied Fitz; "but I don't believe your people can see which way to steer." "Nor I neither," said Poole coolly. "Father is going to chance it, I believe. He'll make straight for where he saw the gunboat last, as he thinks, and take it for granted that we can't run on to her. Besides, she is pretty well sure to be on the move." "Most likely," said Fitz; "but it's terribly risky work."