"Thank you, mum; I 'opes as 'ow you didn't think I wos a-callin' of you a powder-monkey," said Bill, reddening. "Why, don't you think I make a very good one?" smiled the intrepid woman; then excitedly, as the schooner's deck showed, "There's Dago Charlie! There he is, standing right forrard!" All three rifles rang out. The man sprang backwards and was hidden behind the bulwarks, but soon reappeared brandishing a furious fist. What with the difficulty of accurate shooting at night and in the rough sea, neither side seemed to be doing much damage. Jack, Broncho, and Bill Benson concentrated all their energies in the endeavour to pick off the schooner's captain, who exposed himself carelessly as he watched the whaleboat keenly through his binoculars. "That 'ere dago is a heap too obvious on the scenery; if this boat would quit pitchin' so lively, we'd stop his sin-encrusted play some rapid," observed Broncho, as he took a long, careful aim. "Two hours to daylight," muttered Jack, reloading. "I'd like to see him sheer off before dawn." "So should I," said Loyola softly. The woman was behaving with rare courage, and took no more heed of the flying lead than an old campaigner. She and Jim had managed to plug all the shot-holes, and now that the sea was smoother they were able to take a spell at the baling. "Lolie, you're a brick. Pluckiest little woman I've ever met," declared the rolling-stone fervently, as he knelt beside her. "Have we any chance, Jack?" she asked sadly. "Why, of course! You don't want to give in, do you, dearie? I should think you had seen about enough of the _Black Adder_." "Me? I'd rather die than fall into the hands of Dago Charlie!" she cried vehemently. "I thought so," observed Jack, with a keen look of approval in his eyes; and then went on almost gaily, "Then it's a fight to the finish, isn't that so, boys? We won't give her up, will we? No surrender to Dago Charlie for us?" "Give her up? I'm a blasted grabby if we does any such thing," grunted Bill scornfully. "I should smile," drawled Broncho. "What kinder skunks do you-alls think we is? I don't drop out o' this deal till my lamp goes out or that pesterin' snake yonder pulls his freight." "We're never goin' to give you up to that fiend, mum," chimed in Jim, with a ferocious frown of valour on his face. "Why," whispered the bluejacket under his breath to Jack, "the dago mighty near marooned us without 'er; an' if 'e got us now, it'd be over the side for us, and worse for 'er. 'E'll run no more chaunces like last time." "You're right, Bill," agreed the rover; "that's my opinion." The wind had now dropped to no more than a strong breeze and was veering into the north, and no longer coming in gusts. The whaleboat sailed well, but was steadily being overhauled by the schooner, which, however, was some way to leeward. The _Black Adder_ now ceased firing, content with the knowledge that, barring accidents, she was sure of her prey.