“He’s goin’ to board that steamer, as sure as I’m a Yankee,” added Grummet, pulling out his cutlass from under the thwart, and passing his thumb along the edge. “That’s it: there’s a hole in that millstone, leastwise,” chuckled Tom. “I s’pose he’d board a frigate if he fell foul of one.” “No doubt on’t,” laughed Tom. “Give way,--easy!” said Mr. Granger; and the boat swung in so that Jack Somers could jump ashore. “Did you say good-by to the lad afore he went ashore?” continued Grummet: “’cause that’s the last you’ll see of him.” Tom Longstone sprang to his feet at these words, and gazed earnestly at Jack and at all the surroundings on the island. “Grummet, you’re an old fool!” exclaimed Tom angrily. “You frighten me more’n a whole frigate’s broadside would. I thought the lad was killed for sartin.” “He will be, soon.” “Avast there! If you don’t stop growling, I’ll heave you overboard.” “Silence forward!” said Mr. Granger. The command was obeyed, and the sheet-anchor man’s savage reply was nipped in the bud. Tom was too much interested in the movements of his young friend on the island to give any further attention to his unhappy shipmate in the boat. Jack, as directed, crept on his stomach up the ascent of the island till his head had reached the highest point, from which he could look down on the low deck of the Wizard. Our sailor-boy was a very good scholar for one who had enjoyed only the privileges of a district school; but it did not require a very profound knowledge of arithmetic to solve the problem which had been imposed upon him. The men in the rebel steamer were all gathered upon the forward-deck; and, according to our mathematician’s estimate, they numbered about thirty. They would not stand still long enough to be counted with entire accuracy; but Jack satisfied himself that this was very nearly her force. He was about to retire from his position, and report the result of the examination, when certain movements on board the Wizard decided him to remain a few moments longer. The steamer had run up close to the island; and her deck-hands were now in the act of passing the gang-planks to the shore, evidently with the intention of landing her men. Jack did not want to see any more; but, retreating from his position with all haste, he leaped into the boat. “Well, Somers?” demanded Mr. Granger in sharp, quick tones; for the speed which the scout had used in his return conveyed the impression that the whole expedition was in imminent danger. “They have run the gang-planks ashore, sir; and I suppose they are going to land.” “How many men have they?” “About thirty, sir.” “Did you count them?” “As well as I could, sir.” “Are there a hundred of them?” asked Mr. Granger sharply. “No, sir: the number won’t vary half a dozen from what I said.” “Very well, Somers. Are you willing to go up again?” “I am, sir,” promptly replied Jack. “Go, then. Are your pistols loaded?” “Yes, sir.”