Fitz Burnett did not pause to think of the rights or wrongs of his
proceedings, but smothered up everything in the belief that he was doing
his duty.
He would not even pause to consider whether his ideas were possible or
impossible; everything was swallowed up in action, and with feverish
energy he hurried back on deck to make the most use of the flying
moments while he could.
Hurrying forward to where the men were dozing, smoking, and thinking, he
signed to those who noticed his approach, and called to the others.
"Now, my lads!" he cried.
The men sprang up wonderingly, apparently influenced by old traditions,
and in no wise surprised to find the young officer about to give them
some order.
"Look here, my lads," he said, in a low, quick, excited voice; "a word
with you! I know you were all ABs to a man."
"Ay, ay, sir!" said the nearest sailor at whom he looked.
"Old men-of-war's men," continued Fitz to another.
"Ay, ay, sir! That's right," said the sailor.
"It is my duty to make you, a crew of good men and true, know exactly
how you stand."
The listeners looked wonderingly at the excited boy, and then at one
another, as if asking for the meaning of these unusual words.
"Look here," continued Fitz, "you have all been good fellows to me since
I have been aboard."
"Ay, ay, sir! Why not?" said one of the men, with his face broadening
into a hearty grin.
"And that's why I, an officer in the Navy, feel friendly disposed to a
set of smart fellows who used to serve the Queen."
"Ay, ay, sir! We served the Queen," came in a murmur.
"You did it in ignorance, no doubt, but in what you are doing you are
offenders against the law, and may at any time be taken, and perhaps be
strung up to the yardarm after a short trial. Certainly you will be
severely punished."
A low murmur of dissent, almost derision, came from the little knot of
men, and one of them laughed.
"You don't believe me," cried Fitz. "It is true. And now listen to
what I say, one and all; I call upon you in the Queen's name to obey my
orders, for I take possession of this schooner as an officer in Her
Majesty's service. In the Queen's name!"
There was a low murmur of mingled surprise and derision at this.
"Silence, there!" cried Fitz. "I know that I am a very young officer to
speak to you, but I am in the Queen's Navy, and I order you in Her
Majesty's name to obey all my commands. I am going to sail at once for
Kingston, where I have no doubt there will be a man-of-war on the
station, and if you behave well I shall speak to the captain and get him
to make it easy for you, but of course I shall give up the skipper and
his son as prisoners."
"Here, say something, Chips," growled one of the men; and the carpenter
spoke out.
"Say, squire, won't that be rather hard on them?"
"Silence, sir! How dare you! That is not the way for a common sailor
to address an officer."
"Beg pardon, sir, but I am not a common sailor; I am a hartisan. Why,
you know--the Chips."
There was a titter here.
"Attention!" roared Fitz. "This is no laughing matter, my lads.
Perhaps each man's life, certainly his liberty, is at stake."
"Ay, ay, sir!" came in a growl.
"That's better," said Fitz. "Now, I don't want to be hard on you, my
lads."
"Hear, hear! Thank you, sir," cried the carpenter.
"And I should be sorry to be harsh to any man; but once more, as an
officer in the Royal Navy, I have got my duty to do, and I mean to do
it."
"Ay, ay, sir!" came again, in a low acquiescent growl. "But he needn't
keep on a-telling us."
"Those men who stand by me and do their duty in navigating this vessel
shall have ample pay and reward."
"What about prize-money, sir?" shouted a voice.
"There'll be no prize-money."
The men groaned.
"But there will be reward in the shape of salvage, my lads. I,
single-handed, have taken this schooner as a prize to the gunboat
_Tonans_, commanded by Captain Glossop, whose officer I am. She will be
condemned and sold, and those who help me loyally will have their
reward. Now then, every man stand forward who is ready to do his duty
by me."
At that moment there was a sharp tapping heard from below.
"What's that?" cried Fitz sharply, though he perfectly well knew.
"It's the skipper, sir, a-opening his eyes, I think," said the
carpenter. "You've woke him up, talking like that, and he's coming on
deck with a pair of revolving bulldogs, to begin potting us all round.
Here, who's coming below?"
"Silence, sir; and keep your places."
The carpenter stepped back behind the rest, and the next moment there
rang out a most perfect imitation of the crow of a bantam cock, which
was followed by a roaring outburst of merriment from the men.
Fitz turned scarlet with rage.
"How dare--" he began.
"Ahoy! On deck, there!" came faintly from the cabin, followed by a
heavy sound of beating and kicking.
One of the men made a start aft for the companionway, followed by two
more, but Fitz stepped before them.
"Stop!" he shouted fiercely.
"On deck, there! Do you hear? Open this door!" came from below.
"Take no notice," shouted Fitz, "until I give orders. Here, you
carpenter; where's the arm-chest?"
"Down in the cabin, sir."
"No, no; I mean the other one--the men's."
"Arn't no nother one, sir. We always goes to the captain's tool-chest
when we've got anybody as wants killing, or any job of that kind on
hand!"
"Ahoy, there!" came from below once more, and then the sharp report of a
pistol, a crash, and Poole came bounding up on deck, revolver in hand.