“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.