"Now, then, as soon as you get a couple more cabin-doors off, we'll move away these boxes and things the captain has clapped here, and you shall screw up your barricade." "I'll soon be ready," said the mate; and he kept his word; while, as soon as he had let his two men lift out the second door, the major brought up the reserve, as he called it, the chests piled against the door by the captain, Mrs Strong, and the major's wife, were lifted over, and in an incredibly short time the opening, with the door bolted, was covered breast-high with the other doors, which were securely fastened, and the chests were once more piled up in their places.
Meanwhile, in spite of his injury, the captain had been busily engaged placing the weapons in order in his own cabin, off the saloon--the door not being required; and this he carried out by the help of a lamp, Mark eagerly obeying his slightest wishes, with the result that at last there was an ample supply of charged weapons ready, with ammunition so placed as to be at hand.
"If it comes to fighting, my boy--which Heaven forbid!" said the captain--"you will take your place here, and as rapidly as you can you will recharge the pieces brought back to you.

Now, try that revolver." Mark caught up the weapon.
"Unload it." He was sufficiently versed to understand the process, and rapidly drove out each cartridge.
"Now reload," said the captain.
Mark's fingers were just as active in replacing the cartridges; and this done, the guns were tried in the same way.
"I don't see what more we can do," said the captain.

"So lie down and have a sleep, my boy.

I'll keep watch.

To-morrow may be a very weary day for us all." "Don't ask me, father," said the boy in tones of remonstrance.