Mr. Balderson; if the worst came to the worst and one of the men
were hit, he could man his oar, or, if I were myself badly wounded,
could take the command. I think it is Balderson's turn for boat
duty."

"Either of them will do," the captain said; "they are both strong,
active lads, and as steady as you can expect lads to be."

Accordingly, at four in the afternoon the captain's gig was
lowered. As the rule was that all men on boat duty should go armed
no surprise had been excited when the order was given for the men
to take their muskets and cutlasses, though, when an extra supply
of ammunition and a brace of pistols were served out to each, they
thought that something unusual was in the wind, and there was a
grin on the men's faces when a hamper of provisions was placed in
the bow of the boat. Dick was in a state of high but suppressed
delight when informed by the first lieutenant that he was to
accompany him on a boat expedition, and that he had better take
his cloak with him, as they might be out all night.

"You can take your pistols with you, Mr. Balderson; it is not likely
that they will be wanted, but it is as well to carry them."

Dick borrowed a cutlass from the armorer and ground it down to
a razor edge, for his dirk was an altogether useless weapon if it
came to fighting. He was the more convinced that something more
than usual was intended when he saw the assistant surgeon place a
parcel in the stern sheets.

"Bandages, I expect," he said. "Where do you think we can be going,