"Shall we reply, sir?" asked Scarron.
"No; we cannot reach the sloop, and we cannot afford to waste powder and shot."
"I found twenty kegs of powder in the hold, sir."
"You did? That is great!"
"So I thought, sir, and there are more shots than powder on the Lively Bee, and we have a lot of nails on board."
"I see; if you get at close quarters you would fire nails?"
"Why not, sir? They would kill a man just as well as lead."
"You are right, but I don't want to fight at all if I can help it."
"I understand, sir. I guess we shan't do much until morning."
"Have everything in readiness."