"Thank you, mum; I 'opes as 'ow you didn't think I wos a-callin' of you a powder-monkey," said Bill, reddening.
"Why, don't you think I make a very good one?" smiled the intrepid woman; then excitedly, as the schooner's deck showed, "There's Dago Charlie! There he is, standing right forrard!"
All three rifles rang out.
The man sprang backwards and was hidden behind the bulwarks, but soon reappeared brandishing a furious fist.
What with the difficulty of accurate shooting at night and in the rough sea, neither side seemed to be doing much damage.
Jack, Broncho, and Bill Benson concentrated all their energies in the endeavour to pick off the schooner's captain, who exposed himself carelessly as he watched the whaleboat keenly through his binoculars.
"That 'ere dago is a heap too obvious on the scenery; if this boat would quit pitchin' so lively, we'd stop his sin-encrusted play some rapid," observed Broncho, as he took a long, careful aim.
"Two hours to daylight," muttered Jack, reloading. "I'd like to see him sheer off before dawn."
"So should I," said Loyola softly.
The woman was behaving with rare courage, and took no more heed of the flying lead than an old campaigner.