Part 53 (1/2)

_Splash_!

A moment's pause and then--

_Splash_!

Jem had followed suit, and there was a faint display--if the expression is allowable--of water fireworks, as innuht flashed away in every direction

”Lanthorns here!” cried the captain ”Sentries, quick! This way”

He reached the spot fro leap, and in less than a ht of a couple of lanthorns was thrown upon the sea

”Come back!” roared the captain, ”or I fire Marines, leamed further on the sea as those who held theth, and then dimly-seen were the backs of the heads of the timmers, who ht

”Do you hear, you scoundrels?” roared the captain again ”Come back, or I fire”

There was no reply and the heads began to grow h the shi+p, and officers andup the companion ladder and out of their cabins

”Marines, present--fire!” cried the captain

There were two sharp clicks and as many tiny showers of sparks That was all

”Why, you were not loaded!” cried the captain, fiercely, ”Where is the lieutenant? Where is the sergeant? Load, you scoundrels, load!”

Theof their iron raht air

”Pipe away the first cutter!” cried the captain ”Mr Rogerson, bring those scoundrels back”

The shrill pipe of the boatsas heard, and there was a rush of feet as the captain shouted again,--

”Present--fire!”

There was a sharp flash, a loud report, and the captain stae

”Fire, you scoundrel, fire!” he roared at the secondin vain at the trigger, when the piece went off, and the bullet fled skyward, sending the nearest lanthorn held up in the shrouds out of its holder's hand, to fall with a splash in the sea, and float for a fewtill the water touched the wick

”'Pon my word!” cried the captain ”Nice state of discipline Now you--fire again And you, sir, load Can you see the ht”

”Then fire where they hen you saw them last”

”But they won't be there now, sir”

”Silence, you scoundrel! How dare you? Fire!”

_Bang_