n which the large boat had attempted to capture the gig
proved the character of the craft to which she belonged; as also that
either her crew must consider themselves strong enough to resist a
man-of-war, or possibly might suppose that we should not venture into
the river.

In the meantime, the gig with the wounded man had been hoisted up. He
still breathed, and was immediately carried below, and placed under the
care of the surgeon; who, on examining his wound, expressed but slight
hope that he would recover. On hearing this, the crew threatened the
pirates with their vengeance, and were eager to go up the river and take
them.

We now anxiously waited for the sea-breeze. The cable was hove short,
the sails loosed; still, as we looked eastward, not a ripple disturbed
the glass-like surface of the ocean.

"We've got the fellow in a trap, at all events," observed Mudge, "and
fight he must, whether he likes it or not."

"I hope he will," I answered. "I should like to see a good fierce
battle; and there will be little glory in taking the pirate, should she
give in at once."

"You'll sing a different note when you find the shot come flying thickly
about your ears, my boy," answered Mudge; "and as for the glory, there's
not much to be gained by capturing a rascally pirate. For my part, I
hope she'll knock under at once, and give us as little trouble as
possible."

Hour after hour went by, but the breeze did not come; and I heard
Lieutenant Worthy remark that it would afford time to the pirates, if
they were so minded, to fortify themselves on shore, which would enable
them to hold out much better against us, as we should have both the fort
and the ship to contend against.

"That must not stop us," observed the captain; "we must take the ship
first, and the fort afterwards."

At last a few cat's-paws were seen playing over the water. The
dog-vanes blew out, and the breeze, fresh and pure from the ocean, began
to blow. The anchor was quickly got up; and the ship, at first standing
close-hauled to weather the point, glided on towards the main channel of
the river. The bar, on which the water was unusually deep,--a few
slight rollers only coming in over it,--was safely passed, when we began
to stand up the stream. The shores on either hand were thickly covered
with trees, forming impenetrable walls of foliage, and preventing us
from seeing the country beyond, with the exception of some high hills
which rose in