The boarding-netting was partially drawn aside, and Fitz noted that more
than ever the crew of the schooner looked like well-trained man-of-war's
men, each with his cutlass belted on, waiting for the next order, given
in the skipper's voice, when the gig's falls were hooked on and she was
run up to the davits and swung inboard, as were the other boats, and
when the lad sprang on deck he saw that the netting was being lowered
down and secured over the gangway.
It was plain enough that from the moment the gig had pushed off, all
hands had been at work preparing to resist attack if an attempt at
capture were made; and once more the middy forgot his own identity as a
naval officer in his eagerness and interest in all that was going on.
"Oh, one word, Mr Burnett," said the skipper, as he passed where the
lad was standing. "Hadn't you better go below? You've got to think
about who you are if the Spaniards take us," and then with a
good-humoured smile as he read the vexation in the boy's countenance,
"Hadn't I better lock you up in the cabin?"
"I say, Captain Reed," cried the boy, in a voice full of protest, "I do
wish you wouldn't do this. I can't help having a nasty temper, and this
puts me all of a tingle. It seems so hard that men should always laugh
at boys and think they are cowards. We can't help being young."
"Of course you can't, my lad," said the skipper, patting him on the
back. "There, I will never tease you again. In all probability there
won't be anything serious, but if there is, take care of yourself, my
boy, for I shouldn't like you to be hurt."
He gave his listener a pleasant nod, and hurried on towards the mate,
while Fitz joined Poole, who had nothing now to do, and they occupied
themselves in keeping watch for the expected boats and going about
amongst the men, whose general appearance seemed to Fitz to be that they
were going to some entertainment by way of a treat.
But the treat promised to be serious, for rifles were here and there
placed ready for use, and close to every man there was a capstan-bar,
evidently intended to use as a club, a most effective weapon whose
injuries would not prove of a very dangerous type.