el
which had captured him was the one which attacked the _Ouzel Galley_,
and I wished that we might have an opportunity of looking for her. The
captain was, Peter had told me, an Englishman, as were many of the
people with him; but there were others of all nations, as well as
mulattoes, Sambos, and blacks. The descendants of the buccaneers still
inhabit many of the keys on the Bahama bank, and probably the white
population living on shore were some of those people, who keep up the
customs and habits of their ancestors. I must try and learn more from
Peter on the subject, and ascertain exactly where he was picked up by
the _Flora_. If so, calculating the distance he had come in the canoe,
we might be able to discover the hiding-place of the pirates. We have
been some time getting back to Port Royal, and as the _Narcissus_ is
just sailing for England, I must close this to send by her. We received
some bad news on our arrival; the blacks are actually in rebellion and
have committed all sorts of mischief, murdering the whites and all who
oppose them in every direction. We're ordered off to the north coast.
Mr Foley was very anxious to go there, but he is now in a great state
of agitation lest any harm should have befallen our friends; and well he
may be--indeed, I can't help feeling very anxious myself. Still, I
don't want you to be frightened, Norah, and I hope all will go well, and
that we shall find when we get there that the blacks have not attacked
Mr Twigg's house. With best love to father, and kind regards to Mrs
Massey and Owen, if he has arrived, as I make no doubt he will have long
ago--

"I remain--

"Your affectionate brother--

"Gerald Tracy."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

NORAH'S AND CAPTAIN TRACY'S ANXIETY AT NON-ARRIVAL OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--
HER OWNERS GIVE HER UP AS LOST--THE UNDERWRITERS REFUSE PAYMENT OF
INSURANCE--THE MATTER SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION--CAPTAIN TRACY INVITED TO
DUBLIN--HE IS STILL CONVINCED THAT THE OUZEL GALLEY WILL APPEAR--THE
ARBITRATORS MEET AT A DINNER TO DISCUSS THE SUBJECT AND AGREE TO AWAIT
EVENTS--CAPTAIN TRACY RETURNS HOME--REPORTED LOSS OF THE CHAMPION--
CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO IN SEARCH OF THE OUZEL GALLEY AND
CHAMPION--NORAH GETS LEAVE TO GO WITH HIM--THE RESEARCH PURCHASED--
CAPTAIN O'BRIEN GOES TO BRISTOL TO OBTAIN HANDS--A STRANGER BRINGS A
MESSAGE FROM A DYING SHIPMATE--A MESSAGE FROM O.M.--FERRIS, TWIGG, AND
CASH SUPPLY FUNDS--CAPTAIN O'BRIEN RETURNS, AND SA