en the
look-out aloft shouted that he saw three craft stealing up from behind
the island to the eastward. The second mate went up to have a look at
them through his glass, and when he returned on deck he reported that
they were three large proas, pulling, he should say, twenty oars or
more, and full of men, and that he had no doubt they were pirates.
Those seas, we knew, were infested with such gentry--generally Malays,
the most bloodthirsty and cruel of their race. Many a merchant vessel
has been captured by them and sunk, all hands being killed.

"Whatever they are, we must be prepared for them!" cried Captain
Hawkins. "I'll trust to you, lads, to fight to the last; and I tell you
that if they once get alongside us we shall find it a difficult job to
keep them off. We will have the arms on deck, Mr Griffiths, for if we
don't get a breeze, as they pull fast, they'll soon be up to us."

All the muskets were at once brought up and arranged in order; our two
guns were loaded, and the armourer and carpenter set to work to sharpen
the blubber-spades, harpoons, and spears. We had thus no lack of
weapons; our high bulwarks also gave us an advantage; but the pirates,
we knew, would probably out-number us by ten to one.

However, we did not lose heart; Captain Hawkins looked cool and
determined, and the mates imitated his example. I didn't think about
myself, but the fear came over me that, after all, Jack might be killed,
and that I should not have the happiness of taking him home.

As the pirates approached, we made all necessary preparations for
defending ourselves. Muskets and ammunition were served out to the men
most accustomed to firearms; the others had the blubber-spades and
spears put into their hands. The two mates took charge of the guns,
which were loaded to their muzzles, and matches were got ready for
firing them. The doctor provided himself with a couple of muskets and a
sword. The captain told him he must not run the risk of being wounded,
as he might be required to bind up the hurts of the rest of us. He
laughed, and said that the first thing to be done was to drive back our
enemies should they attempt to board the ship.

The pirates came closer and closer. The captain looked anxiously round
the horizon, for though, like a brave man, he was prepared to defend his
ship to the last, he had no wish for a fight. As I looked over the
sides I saw some cats-paws playing along the surface of the water