“Because I don’t know what Fitz Burnett will think.”
“Whatever he thinks he’ll know that I am speaking the truth. But I say, lad,” continued the skipper, gripping the middy’s shoulder tightly; “you’ll help me, won’t you?”
“Haven’t I forgotten myself enough, sir?” said Fitz, in a tone as full of reproach as that of Poole.
“No, my boy. I think you have behaved very bravely; and I don’t think, if your superior officer knew all, that he would have much to say. But I don’t want you to fight. I mean, help me after the trouble’s over; I mean, turn assistant-surgeon when I take off my jacket.”
“Yes, that I will,” cried Fitz. “I ought to be getting ready some bandages and things now.”
“Oh, I think I’ve got preparations enough of that sort made,” said the skipper; “and there is still a chance that we may not want them. Hah! That hope’s gone. Ahoy! bosun! Let them have the pipe.”
Old Butters’s silver whistle rang out shrill and clear, but only called one man to his duty, and that was the Camel, who came tumbling out of the galley and gave the door a bang.
Every one else was on the alert, watching a boat coming round the bend, followed by two more, crowded with armed men whose oars sent the water splashing up like so much liquid gold. The fight began at once, for the skipper had given his instructions.
These he supplemented now with a sharp order which was followed by the crack of a rifle echoing from cliff to cliff, and Fitz, who had run towards the stern to look over, was in time to see that the skipper’s comment, “Good shot, my lad!” was well deserved, for one of the officers in the stern-sheets of the first boat sprang up and would have gone overboard but for the efforts of his men, who caught and lowered him back amidst a little scene of confusion and a cessation of the rowing.
Another shot rang out and there was more confusion, the way of the leading boat being stopped; but the orders issued in the other boats were plainly heard on board the schooner; oars splashed more rapidly, and once more all three boats were coming on fast.