lities, the pirates ought by this time to be well on
toward a hundred miles to the eastward of us, while the stranger was
coming down, with squared yards, from the northward.

"We must contrive to attract the attention of that craft and get her to
pick us up," I cried. "Have we anything in the boat from which we can
make a flare?"

A hurried search was rewarded by the production of a piece of old
tarpaulin that we were using as a cover and protection to our stock of
provisions; and a long strip of this was hurriedly torn off, liberally
sprinkled with the oil that still remained in the drum, twisted tightly
up, and ignited. The flame sputtered a bit at first, probably from the
fact that sea water had penetrated to the interior of the drum and
mingled to a certain extent with the oil; but presently our improvised
flare burst into a bright ruddy flame, which lighted up the hulls and
sails of the boats and was reflected in broad red splashes of colour
from the tumbling seas that came sweeping steadily down upon us.

All eyes were now eagerly directed toward the approaching ship, of
which, however, we entirely lost sight in the dazzling glare of our
torch. But when, after blazing fiercely for about a couple of minutes,
until it was consumed, our flare went out and left us once more in
darkness, there was no answering signal from the stranger, which was
coming down fast before the steadily strengthening breeze.

"Make another one, lads, and light it as quickly as you can," I cried.
"We must not let her slip past us. Our lives may depend upon our
ability to attract her attention and get her to pick us up. But what is
the matter with them aboard there that they have not seen us? Their
look-outs must be fast asleep."

"She's a trader of some sort, sir; that's what's the matter with her,"
answered one of the men. "If she was a man-o'-war, or a slaver, there'd
be a better look-out kept aboard of her. If I had my way them chaps
what's supposed to be keepin' a look-out should get six dozen at the
gangway to-morrer mornin'."

"Hurry up with that flare, lads," I exhorted. "Be as quick with it as
you like."

"Ay, ay, sir! we shall be ready now in the twinklin' of a purser's
lantern," answered the man who was preparing the torch. "Now, Tom,
where's that there binnacle lamp again? Shield it from the wind with
your cap, man, so's it don't get blowed out while I sets fire to this
here flare."

The man was still fumblin