"We can't stand this, Hapgood," said Tom, fiercely, as he leaped into the midst of the party in the standing room. "Let's give them the bayonet." "Give it to 'em, Tom!" replied the veteran, as he placed himself by the side of his young companion. "Will you surrender?" demanded Tom, as he thrust vigorously with his bayonet. "We surrender," replied one of the men; but it was not the one who had spoken before, for he had dropped off his seat upon the bottom of the boat. "Give up your pistols, then," added Hapgood. "You look out for the boat, Tom, and I will take care of these fellows." Tom sprang to the position which had been occupied by the spokesman of the party, and grasping the foresheet and the tiller of the boat, he soon brought her up to the wind. Seating himself in the stern, he assumed the management of the schooner, while Hapgood busied himself in taking the pistols from the hands of the rebels, and exploring their pockets, in search of other dangerous weapons. "How are you, Fred?" shouted Tom, when the pressing business of the moment had been disposed of. "Are you much hurt?" "I'm afraid my time's most up," replied he, faintly. "Where are you hit?" "In the face; the ball went through my head, I suppose," he added, in tones that were hardly audible, in the warring of the December blast. "Keep up a good heart, Fred, and we will soon be ashore. Have you got an easy place?" "No, the water dashes over me." "Can't you move him aft, Hapgood?" "Pretty soon; when I get these fellows fixed," replied the veteran, who had cut the rope nearest to his hands, and was securing the arms of the prisoners behind them. "There is no fear of them now. We have got two revolvers apiece, and we can have it all our own way, if they show fight." But Hapgood had bound the rebels by this time, and with tender care he lifted his wounded companion down into the standing room, and made him as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. "Now, where are we, Hapgood?" asked Tom, who had been vainly peering ahead to discover some familiar object by which to steer. I can't see the first thing." "I don't know where we are," replied Hapgood. "I never was much of a sailor, and I leave the navigating all to you." "I can navigate well enough, if I knew where we were," added Tom, who had thus far been utterly unable to ascertain the "ship's position."