cordingly pointed out
to Johnson the strength of the position they occupied, the complete
command over the harbour-entrance which a battery would have at that
point, and the effective defence it would constitute to the new
shipyard; and the pirate was speedily convinced of the soundness of
Lance's views.

These points settled, the party returned to the bottom of the bay; and
Johnson then invited Lance to present himself at eight o'clock that
evening in the capstan-house, there to submit his plans for the new
schooner to a committee of the pirates for approval.

The drawings were in fact scarcely ready; but by working hard for the
remainder of the day not only were they completed, but the carpenter had
also prepared a half-model of the hull by the hour at which the
committee was to meet; and, armed with these, Lance, Captain Staunton,
and the carpenter duly presented themselves at the capstan-house at
eight o'clock.

They were met at the door by Johnson, who conducted them up a step-
ladder into an apartment in the first floor of the building. It was a
room about sixty feet long by forty feet broad, and was apparently used
as a sort of general assembly-room, being fitted up with rows of benches
from the door right up to a platform at the further end. On this
platform there stood, upon the present occasion, a large table lighted
by a pair of handsome lamps, and surrounded by a dozen chairs, some of
which were already occupied when Lance and his companions entered.

Our friends quietly seated themselves, Lance on one side of Johnson,
Captain Staunton on the other, with the trusty carpenter next him.
Johnson then ordered the bell to be rung to summon the laggards; and in
a few minutes afterwards the entire committee, some eight men in all,
had assembled.

Johnson then rose to address the party. He remarked that they were
already aware of the purpose for which they had been summoned, namely to
inspect the plans of a new schooner which he proposed to have built; but
he had been led to understand that doubts had been expressed in certain
quarters (here he glanced at Ralli) as to the necessity for such a
proceeding; and he had therefore invited them there to meet him in order
that he might lay before them his views upon the matter and answer such
questions as any of them might wish to put to him. He then cited
several unsuccessful chases in which he had engaged, as well as his
recent narrow escape from the frigate, as