The men were armed with carbines and broad sabers.

They had come within easy hail.
"Present arms!" commanded Capt.

Mazard in clear tones.
Eight of us, with our rifles, stood fast.
"Repel _boarders_!" Instantly we dropped on one knee, and brought our pieces to bear over the rail, the bayonets flashing as brightly as their own.
"Boat ahoy!" shouted Raed through the trumpet.
"Ahoy yourself!" roared the red-faced man in the stern.

"What ship is that, anyway ?" This was rather insulting talk: nevertheless, Raed answered civilly and promptly,-- "The schooner-yacht 'Curlew' of Portland." "Where bound?
What are you doing here ?" "Bound on a cruise into Hudson Bay!" responded Raed coolly; "for scientific purposes," he added.
"Scientific devils!" blustered the officer.

"You can't fool us so! You're in here on a trading-voyage.