h_ stood on for a couple of days more, close-hauled,
frequently having to tack to avoid the rocks and reefs to the westward.
Without the greatest possible care she might easily have shared the fate
of the _Champion_. As she got to the northward the difficulties of the
navigation increased. Dillon, however, proved himself to be an able
pilot. He smiled as he saw the pistol which one of the warrant officers
held constantly at his head, as if he considered the precaution a very
unnecessary one.

"Nobody desires to see the _Research_ safe inside Tiger harbour more
eagerly than I do," he observed. "Should the ship strike on a reef, it
will not be my fault."

"A sail on the weather-bow!" shouted the look-out from aloft.

"What is she like?" asked Mr Foley, who had charge of the watch.

"A small boat or canoe under sail, sir," was the answer.

Gerald, who was on deck, was sent by Mr Foley with a spy-glass aloft to
take a look at the boat. "If she steers as she is now doing she will
pass, I take it, a couple of miles from us, sir," he cried out.

The commander, who just then came on deck, upon hearing this, ordered
the ship to be put about to cut off the boat. At the same time the
colours were hoisted, so that should the people in the boat be English,
they might know that the ship was a friend. A considerable amount of
curiosity was excited as to what a small boat could be about in these
little-frequented seas, and all the glasses on board were turned towards
her. As she had now altered her course and was standing towards the
ship, she was rapidly neared, and five people were counted on board her.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE OUZEL GALLEY OVERTAKEN BY A HURRICANE--DRIVEN TOWARDS THE COAST OF
CUBA--THE MAINMAST STRUCK BY LIGHTNING--FIRE--OWEN EXTINGUISHES THE
FLAMES--CLOSE IN WITH THE COAST--A STRANGER SEEN--A MUTINY ON BOARD--
CHASED--THE OUZEL GALLEY BOARDED BY PIRATES--O'HARRALL RECOGNISES OWEN,
AND SPARES HIS AND HIS FOLLOWERS' LIVES--THE OUZEL GALLEY CARRIED TO THE
PIRATE'S STRONGHOLD--OWEN AND HIS COMPANIONS IMPRISONED IN THE STORE--
OLD MAMMY KEEPS STRICT WATCH--O'HARRALL'S CHANGEABLE TEMPER--PLANS FOR
ESCAPING--MONTHS PASS BY--FRESH GUARDS SET TO WATCH THEM--HEAR OF THE
LOSS OF THE EAGLE--THE PIRATES STILL IN THE OUZEL GALLEY--OWEN AND HIS
FOLLOWERS ESCAPE IN A CANOE--SEE THE OUZEL GALLEY--AVOID HER--GET ON
BOARD THE RESEARCH.

When Owen Massey sailed from Montego Bay, he had hoped to escape all
enemies an