"The few hands sprang aloft to loose sails, the skipper went to the helm, and the mates stood ready to unshackle the cable, while the gig's crew hoisted up their boat. I really thought that Captain Crowhurst was going to sail without waiting for the colonel. I heard him order the midshipmen, who were talking together, to lend a hand in getting the ship under weigh if they didn't wish to be run up to the yard-arm. The poor young lady was in a state of great agitation at seeing what was happening. "`We'll not touch a rope till the colonel is on board,' says Mr Rogers; `he is our friend, and we'll not allow him to be basely deserted. We are not under your command either, if it comes to that.' "At this the skipper swore fearfully, and, seizing a rope's end, seemed as if he would have given a taste of it to the midshipmen all round, when the young lady, stepping before him, told him that he was a coward, and dared him to strike them. He went back to the wheel without answering. I had been keeping a look-out for the boats. Daylight was increasing, and I now saw them coming off, the men bending to their oars as if they were in chase of an enemy. They soon dashed up alongside, and the colonel came on deck, looking as cool as if nothing particular had happened, though by the way the men sprang on board and hauled away at the falls, and then turned to at loosing sails, I judged that they knew there was no time to be lost. The cable was let run out, the sails were sheeted home, and, with a light breeze off the land, we stood out of the harbour, followed by the sloop. I saw the colonel talking to his daughter, who seemed terribly alarmed; but he laughed and looked at the strangers about two miles off on the starboard bow, and then he pointed ahead as if he expected to get out of the harbour before they were up to us; I had my doubts, however, whether we should. The midshipmen then came up to him, as I supposed, to say how glad they were that he had got safe on board. He answered them very shortly, and taking the young lady by the hand led her below. Soon afterwards Mr Rogers came for'ard to where I was standing. "`I suspect, Needham, that the colonel has got into some scrape on shore,' said he. `It is clear from that officer coming off to her that the brig was expected on the coast, and probably those men-of-war are sent to overhaul her. Do you think that we shall get out to sea before they come up with us? and if we don't, can we beat them off?' "`To be honest with you, Mr Rogers, I don't think that there's much chance of our escaping them, and as to beating them off, even if the fellows aboard here would fight, we couldn't do it, unless they take fright at the sound of our pop-guns,' I answered. "`We must try to frighten them, at all events,' he said. `It won't do to let a band of ruffians come aboard and frighten Miss O'Regan, and perhaps carry off the colonel, if they have any accusation against him.'