But the trembling foremast hand took his place at the tiller. He continued to mutter to himself, as though he was repelling the charge of cowardice which had been fastened upon him. "Come, Lily, you must go into your cabin now," added Dan, tenderly, as he turned to Lily. "This is no place for you." "O, I'm not afraid of the guns, Dan; only of the slave-hunters, and I cannot hide myself from them." "You may escape if you stay in the cabin, and you can do no good here. I shall feel better to know that you are in a place of safety." "I'm not afraid, Dan; really, I am not," replied she, earnestly. "But you are in our way here, Lily. Do go into your cabin, and lie down in your berth." "I will if I am in the way." "If we have to fight, it will be right here, and I am determined to resist to the last." "I will go;" and Dan led her to the door of her cabin. She entered, and threw herself upon the cushions of the berth, and Dan, satisfied that she was in a place of comparative safety, turned his attention to the defence of his party. "Can you handle a gun?" said he, turning to Quin, who appeared to be as cool and resolute as the skipper. "Well, I done shoot some," replied Quin. "Take a gun, then." "Wha--wha--wha----" gasped Cyd. "Silence, Cyd! Keep both eyes on the sails, or I'll put a bullet through your head. I didn't expect you would be a coward at such a time as this." "Dis chile ain't a coward," answered Cyd, rising from his seat. "Sit down, and mind your helm then!" "Give me de gun, and I'll show you Cyd ain't no coward, no how." "You never fired a gun in your life. You would be more likely to shoot yourself than any body else. Mind your helm; that's all we want of you." "Possifus! Dis chile ain't no coward, no how," growled Cyd, as he cast his eyes at the sails. "Fire away dar, and show dese folks Cyd's no coward!" "Gwine to fire into dem folks in de boat?" asked Quin. "I am, if occasion requires," replied Dan, as he discharged the gun he held in his hand in the direction of the pursuers. "But I want to let them know that we are armed, and able to give as good as they send. I don't want to kill any of them if I can help it." "I don't mind killin ob 'em; dat's what dey done do to me if dey gits a chance." "Stop your boat!" shouted one of the men again; and it was evident, from the tones of the speaker, that the report of the gun from the Isabel was not altogether favorable to the views of the pursuers. Dan made no reply, but loaded up his gun for further use. "Stop your boat, or we'll fire into you again," shouted the speaker. "If you do you will get as good as you send," answered Dan, as he put the cap upon his piece.