"What, for that!" cried the naturalist. "Oh, it's nothing--makes me feel a little giddy and headachy, that's all. But I think I'll go and sit out of the sun for a bit. Why, we're sailing again." "Yes," I cried; "there's a beautiful breeze on, and we've left the beaten enemy behind, and--" _Flip_-_flip_-_flap_-_flap_-_flop_! The wind had ceased as suddenly as it had come on. "Well, sir," said Bob Hampton, a short time later, "I never 'spected to see you get to be skipper dooring this voyage." "Oh, don't talk nonsense, Bob," I cried. "Look--they're coming on again as fast as they can row." The old sailor shaded his eyes and looked aft at the two boats, which the men were tugging along with all their might, taking advantage of our being becalmed to try and overtake us and renew their attempt. "Yes, there they are, bless 'em!" cried Bob. "Well, sir, as skipper o' this here ship, with all the 'sponsibility depending on you, o' course you know what to do." "No, I don't, Bob," I cried. "How can a boy like I am know how to manage a full-rigged ship?" "Tchah! You've been to sea times enough, and a ship's on'y a yacht growed up. Besides, there's no navigating wanted now as there's no wind." "But the boats!" I cried. "Look at the boats." "Oh, I see 'em, my lad; well, that means fighting, and I never knowed a boy yet as didn't know how to fight." "We must try to beat them off, Bob," I said, ignoring his remark. "Nay, not try--do it, sir; and you, being skipper, of course 'll give 'em a startler to show 'em what's waiting for 'em, if they try to board again." "What do you mean, Bob?" I cried. "Well, come, I like that, sir," he said, with a laugh; "there have you got the little signal-gun loaded and primed, and the poker all red-hot and waiting, and i'stead o' having it run to the gangway, set open ready to give 'em their startler, you says you don't know what to do?" "Would you do that, Bob?" I said anxiously. "No; but you would, sir, being skipper, and wanting to save the ship, what's left o' the cargo, and all aboard." "But it might sink them." "And jolly well serve 'em right--a set of piratical sharks. Ahoy, Barney!--you aren't to stop at that there wheel now; the skipper wants you to lend a hand with the gun." Barney ran up to us, and the gun was dragged to the open gangway, ready for the mutineers, as they still rowed on. "Neb, old lad," cried Bob, "give a hye to the red-hot poker, and when I cries `Sarvice!' out you runs with it, and hands it to me." "Ay, ay," growled Dumlow, in his deepest bass. "It's all right, Mr Dale, sir," whispered Bob. "You can't hit 'em with that thing if you try ever so; but it'll splash up the water, and scare the lot on 'em so that old Frenchy 'll have no end of a job to get 'em to come on."