“Very good, sir,” said Captain Nancy.
“Lower sail as we come alongside. Grapple, and board him. He’ll go for one lot of us. He can’t go for both. The others’ll get aboard and take him in the rear.”
“Hand-to-hand fighting from the very first,” said Nancy.
“What about nailing our colours to our masts?” said Able-seaman Titty.
“Fasten the flag halyards with a clove hitch,” said Captain Nancy. “That’ll be as good.”
“Just look at his flag,” said Roger, who, as usual, was at his post in the bows.
They had passed the point, and could see into Houseboat Bay. There lay the houseboat, moored to her big barrel buoy, and on her little flagstaff of a mast, accustomed to carry the red ensign, was a large and most unusual flag, blowing out finely in the wind. It was a green flag, and in the middle of it, nearly filling it, was a huge white elephant. The Houseboat Man, Captain Flint, had dug it out for the occasion.
“I know what it is,” said John. “It’s the Siamese flag.”
“I’ve seen it before,” said Mate Peggy. “He brought it back from the East last year.”
“Well, it’s coming down in two shakes,” said Captain Nancy. “As soon as ever we get aboard. Down with the Elephant! Swallows and Amazons forever!”
“Blow your whistle, Mister Mate,” said Captain John. “The fleet will now attack.”
Susan blew her whistle.