Fitz the Filibuster Part 60

"Oh yes, we've got all these little necessaries. Father goes on the Volunteer system: 'Defence, not Defiance.'"

"Well, that's defiant enough," said Fitz. "It's like saying, 'You're not coming aboard here,' in string."

"Of course. You don't suppose we want a set of half Indian, half Spanish mongrel sailors taking possession of the _Teal_? You wait till we get aboard, and you'll see all our lads busy with the fleas."

"Busy with the fleas?" said Fitz. "What do you mean?"

"Those father talked about, to put in the Don's ears before we send them back."

"How can you go on making poor jokes at a time like this?" said the middy, in a tone of annoyance. "Why, it looks as if we are in for a serious fight."

"As if _we_ are!" said Poole, emphasising the "we."

"How many more times am I to tell you that it is our game and not yours?"

"But look here," said Fitz excitedly. "Your father really does mean to fight?"

"My father does, and so does every one else," replied Poole. "In oars, my lads," and the next moment the mate hooked on close to the gangway.

"I suppose," continued Poole, "you will stop on deck till the row begins? You will want to see all you can."

"Of course," said Fitz, whose face was once more growing flushed.

"Well, I wouldn't stop up too long. The enemy may fire, and you will be safer down below."

"Yes, I suppose so," said the middy coolly; "and of course you are coming too?"

"Coming too? That's likely, isn't it?" said Poole contemptuously.

"Just as likely as that I should go and hide."

"But it's no business of yours. You are not going to fight."

"No," said Fitz, "but I want to see."

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

FITZ FORGETS.

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 cutla.s.s 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 ident.i.ty 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 pa.s.sed 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.

Fitz whispered as much to his companion, who nodded and then replied--

"Well, that depends on what the lads call the spaniel dogs. The dad doesn't want it to be too serious, of course, but we can't help it if these fellows make our lads savage. You see, we've got cutla.s.ses and rifles, and fellows forget to be gentle if they are hurt."

"But we are not at war with Don Villarayo's State."

"No," said Poole, "and Villarayo is not at war with our schooner and the men, but if he begins giving us Olivers he must expect to get Rolands back. Those who play at bowls, you know, must expect rubbers, and when Englishmen rub, they rub hard."

Fitz half turned away to look astern. "I say," he said, "aren't they a long time coming?"

"No; they had a long way to row."

"Seems a long time. Perhaps they have thought better of it and gone back."

"Think so? Well, I don't. They are sure to come. But I dare say it will be a good quarter of an hour yet--perhaps half."

"Well," said Fitz, "for my part, I--" He stopped short, and Poole looked at him curiously.

"Well?" he said. "You what? What were you going to say?"

"Nothing. You'd only think that I was afraid."

"Oh, I know," said Poole. "You were going to say that you hope it won't turn out serious. I shouldn't think that you were afraid. I feel just the same. But you may make up your mind for one thing. We are in the strongest position, and Villarayo's sailors won't be allowed to take the _Teal_. If it comes to bloodshed, it's their doing, mind, and not ours.

Now, don't let's talk any more."

"Why not?" said Fitz. "I feel as if I must. Perhaps I shouldn't if I were one of your crew, and like that."

He pointed quickly to his companion's belt, from which hung a sword, and then quickly touched the flap of the little holster b.u.t.toned over the bra.s.s stud. "You won't use that, will you?" he said. "Not if I can help it," was the reply. "Help it! Why, of course you needn't unless you like."

"Well, I shouldn't like to, of course. But if you were I, and you saw one of these fellows aiming at one of your men, say at old b.u.t.ters or Chips, setting aside the dad, wouldn't you try and whip it out to have first shot?"

Fitz nodded shortly, and for the time being the conversation ceased, while the lads' attention was taken up by the sight of the Camel, who after making a rattling noise as if stoking his fire in the galley, shut the door with a bang, and came out red-faced and hot, wiping his hands prior to buckling on a belt with its cutla.s.s and then helping himself to a capstan-bar.

It was only a few minutes later that the bows of a large cutter came in sight, followed by the regularly dipping oars of the crew of swarthy sailors who were pulling hard.

The next moment the uniforms of two officers could be made out in the stern-sheets, where they sat surrounded by what answered to marines, and before the cutter had come many yards the bows of its consort appeared.

As they came within sight of the schooner a cheer arose, a sort of imitation British cheer, which had a curious effect upon the schooner's crew, for to them it seemed so comic that they laughed; but a growl from the mate made every one intent for the serious work in hand, as at the next order they divided in two parties, each taking one side of the schooner for the defence under command of the skipper and his chief officer.

"You understand, Burgess?" said the former sternly. "You will keep a sharp eye on us, and I'll keep one on you. It must be a case of the one helping the other who is pressed."

The mate grunted, and the skipper spoke out to his men.

"Look here, my lads," he said; "we are not at war, and I want no bloodshed. Use your capstan-bars as hard as you like, and tumble them back into their boats, or overboard. No cutla.s.s, edge or point, unless I give the word."