I
suspected, however, that all was not right when they kept us apart, so I
made up my mind to escape on the first opportunity, and I had no doubt
that Pat would do the same.

"We remained where we were until news was brought that an English
merchant vessel had anchored in the mouth of the river, and they, having
held a counsel, determined to attack her. I tried to escape, hoping to
warn you of your danger, but I was caught, and was threatened if I made
another attempt that I should lose my life. You know most of the rest.
If the pirates had found you napping, they would have murdered every one
of you and plundered your brig. I felt sure, from the way you defended
yourselves, that you would gain the victory. I took the opportunity
while the Malays were engaged in fighting you to jump overboard and swim
to you. Just as I reached the water, a fellow catching sight of me
pounded me with his spear, and very nearly hooked me back; but diving, I
came up some distance off, and he thought probably that I was drowned.
As I could find no means of getting up your side, I clambered on board
the prahu, and from her got through the after port, which I found open.
What has become of Tandy I cannot say; he may have attempted to follow
my example and has lost his life, or, poor fellow! They will kill him
when they find I have escaped."

Charley Bell's account of himself was very wonderful, but we had no
reason to disbelieve it.

As he was much hurt, the first mate, who was always ready to sacrifice
his own comfort for the good of others, placed him in his own berth that
he might the better attend to him. We then went to assist my uncle in
looking after the other wounded men. Two were unfit for duty, but the
rest managed to get about with bandaged arms and heads, and a somewhat
ghastly crew they looked. The second mate and boatswain were slightly
hurt, and Blyth had received two wounds, but neither were of much
consequence; while the captain, though three bullets had gone through
his clothes, was uninjured, as were the first mate and I. On going to
the mast-head, I discovered through the spy-glass the pirate fleet far
away astern. On hearing this the captain determined to stand out into
the sea of Celebes to avoid another encounter with them.

It seemed surprising that although our good captain had been almost
confined to his cabin up to the time we entered the river he should have
been able to exert himself as he did whe