“Well, it’s the safest, sir; but mightn’t we load every piece we’ve got and give ’em a taste of that wittles as well, sir?”

“Of course,” was the reply; and every piece was loaded; but still the enemy did not come.

“I say, sir, this here arn’t going to end in a big disappyntment, is it, sir?”

“What, do you think they mayn’t come?”

“Yes, sir, that’s it.”

“What could be better, Tom?” replied Murray.

“Oh, I want ’em to come, sir,” grumbled the man. “They’ve made us so savage that we shan’t none of us be happy without we gets a chance to use this here dust.”

“They’ll come; depend upon it, Tom,” said Murray.

“Then how would it be to light a fire out yonder, sir?” suggested the big sailor.

“What, so as to see the enemy?”