case the looters may be reckoning without their hostat least as far as we navy fellows are concerned. I believe the fort is immensely strong, quite impossible of attack by ships, so probably we shall land the soldiers and marines some distance off, and lie idly at our anchors, while the redcoats are doing all the work."

"Oh come, Paddy, don't take such an awful gloomy look of things. I've quite made up my mind we shall have a jolly fight for it—a bombardment, or an attack in boats, or a part in the storming of the fort. Don't you go and throw cold water on what I've been looking forward to!"

'Me, throw cold water! The divil a fear of that. There's no one would better like a brush with these rascally pirates than myself; an', please the pigs, I'll get my finger into the pie somehow or another."

"So will I, Paddy!" cried Kershaw, who was full of 'dash' and had distinguished himself in many former affairs, young as he was; while the stolid Philip Merville, who just then joined them, declared that he would make no exertion one way or the other, but just let things take their course.

All this while Alf Stannus was working away in the gloomy region dedicated to the Purser, an officer named Kent, whose spiritual organization was very much on a par with that of his friend and congenial

companion, the midshipman now in his cabin. Whatever it was that the latter was working at, he laboured most assiduously, as well as kept his secret most closely -not one of his fellow-midshipmen, and you may be sure they did not forbear both 'chaffing' and questioning him, being able to make out what he was really doing. In any case there seemed very little chance of Alf's taking any part in the shore work, for the very good reason that, as flag-midshipman, his duties would require him to remain on board with the officer in command of the naval portion of the expedition.

That evening the Conquest, which had led all the way since sinking Colaba light, slackened speed to allow the rest of the squadron to come up. By day-break the next morning all the ships were in their proper positions, and a cautious advance towards the coast, very close to which the pirate island lay, was made. At a considerable distance the ships lay to, while a gunboat, with a very light draught of water was sent forward to reconnoitre and select the most favourable point for attack either by sailors or soldiers, or both, as should seem most advisable.

Well, I shall have the first 'smell' at the loot after all!" cried Alf Stannus in great glee, as he ran down into the gun-room for his dirk and pistols. The gunboat was to carry both the military and naval Com

manders-in-Chief, to make the necessary reconnoissance in person, and Alf, as flag-midshipman, was, of course, to wait on the latter.

“Ay, and a smell's about all you'll get, my gay young cutpurse!" shouted Kershaw after him as he ran out again with his weapons; and all the messmates laughed at the eager greed of gold that had shone luridly in the boy's eyes when speaking of his looting chances.

"Let us go on deck and see what chances there are of our having a share in the scrimmage," suggested Myles Dalton, leading the way upwards, followed by all but the phlegmatic Merville, who declared he would not disturb the rest of his 'watch below' for all the Indian pirates yet unhung. Not a soul was visible on land, or on the distant walls of the fort, as the gunboat fussily steamed away on her mission of discovery; and bets were freely offered and taken, that the pirates, hearing of the expedition, had abandoned the island and gone off into the wilds of the interior lying behind that bleak and desolate coast, taking with them all their gods, their goods, and their vast wealth.

"Gone, are they? the divil a foot of them. Look there!" shouted Myles Dalton, pointing to a fleecy puff of white smoke from a concealed gun on shore. In a second or two the explosion was heard, and the

D D

splash of a round shot, unpleasantly near to the bows of the gunboat, plainly told that she would not be allowed to proceed on her errand inshore without opposition.

From the Conquest they eagerly watched the little craft now, as she was at once put about and steamed at right angles to her former coastwards direction; then she was put under the full power of her engines until full speed was attained, when she continued her course of discovery round the island, saluted every now and then with shot and shell from guns concealed behind the low sandhills of the shore. From the fort itself she was attacked with great vigour, but in consequence of her speed, the small target she afforded to the pirate-gunners, and the length of the range, she was only struck two or three times, without sustaining much damage, while no one on board was touched.

After a most careful survey she returned to the squadron, and a council of war was immediately summoned, to be held on board the Conquest. For three hours did it deliberate with closed doors, and the eager curiosity evinced by all on board as to its proceedings can only be realised by those who have been similarly situated. At last the various officers went away to their own ships and troops, and the news

leaked out on board the Conquest that the soldiers were to be landed some miles down the beach and attack by degrees, while the naval squadron were to remain and watch events there being absolutely nothing else for them to do.

"What a horrible sell!" cried Roger Kershaw, in a

rage.

"Don't be impatient, my lad!" said the First Lieutenant overhearing him, "there is to be a Naval Brigade."

CHAPTER II.

PLUNDER AND ITS RESULTS.

"OH, be the powers! the villian has shot the sights

off me gun, and spoilt me aim!" yelled out Myles Dalton in the thick of the assault on the fort, as a bullet from the walls ziz-zagged down the outside of the barrel of his rifle, taking the fore and back sights with it, and glancing off at the trigger guard into the thigh of a black Marine who howled again with pain.

"What's the matter, Paddy?" called out Roger Kershaw who, some little distance off, was loading and firing at the pirates on the high ramparts in front, and doing no little execution, while at the same time he