But he dared not show it, or express any thought about the danger all were about to encounter. He even tried to smile and look merry. But it was all sham. Poor Tim could be as brave as any one as far as words went, but when it came to blows and hard knocks he wished himself a thousand miles away. Some of the smugglers provided Tim with plenty of arms. “As I _must_ go,” thought Tim, “and as there is no getting away from these villanous, black-looking band of smugglers, I might as well arm myself to the teeth; the more weapons I have the greater chance I have for my life.” With this thought uppermost in his mind, Master Tim put on an immense pair of water-boots that reached above the knee; and although he could scarcely walk in them, on account of their weight and clumsiness, he never said a word. “For,” thought Tim, “it won’t do to let these devils think I am afraid, after all the hard lies I have told ’em to-day; besides, if they thought I wanted to get away, they’d scrag me on the instant.” Next he put on an immense waist-belt, and stuck into it half-a-dozen pistols, all double-shotted. Besides these, he thrust into his belt a heavy cutlass, a dagger, and a long knife. Not satisfied with all these warlike preparations, he seized a heavy blunderbuss, and filled up to the muzzle with powder and shot. This he slung on his back, and walked up and down the cave, thinking— “It’s very nasty, dangerous work, attacking ships; if this one Sea-hawk is going to capture to-night had been well-armed and manned by a stout crew, I shouldn’t a’ thought of rigging myself this way; I should a’ fallen on to their decks, like a dead man, and let the smugglers fight it out their own way, and then joined the victors; but if the ship is unarmed, and there is much gold on board, I want to throw dust into Sea-hawk’s eyes, and get as much as possible for my share; and then, when I _have_ got the gold-dust, I shall hook it, for I know the way now into old Nettle’s place up through that trap-door.” Tim tried to look very fierce, and smoked a pipe to keep down his fearful feelings. But he looked like a walking arsenal more than anything else, and could scarcely move with the immense weight girt about him. From time to time as night closed in, word was passed from the watchers outside that the “Sea Spray” was gradually approaching. When first he heard this report, Tim pretended to be overjoyed, and very anxious to encounter the stranger and show the smuggler band what a courageous fellow he was. But when Sea-hawk at last gave the order for all his men to make ready to start out on the expedition, Tim’s heart began to flutter and to beat very loudly. He took a good draught of rum, however, and, as well as he could, got into the boat. When all had assembled at the mouth of the cave, Sea-hawk called the six boats’ crew together and gave them his final instructions.