rmination which animated our pursuers was clearly exemplified
by their behaviour; they made no attempt to cross with a rush the
stretch of water intervening between us and them, but settled down
steadily to accomplish the long pull before them as rapidly as possible
consistent with the husbanding of their strength for the attack when
they should arrive alongside. As they pushed off from the brig she
fired a gun and hoisted Brazilian colours.

"The affair begins to look serious, Pringle," I said, as I directed my
telescope at the boats. "There must be close upon forty men in that
attacking-party, and we do not mount so much as a single gun. Now, I
wonder what their plan of attack will be? Will they dash alongside and
attempt to carry us by boarding, think you; or will they lie off and
pound us with their gun until we haul down our colours, or sink?"

"They may try both plans, sir," answered Pringle. "That is to say, they
may begin by trying a few shots at us with their gun, and if they find
that no good I expect they'll try what boarding will do for them. But
they won't sink us; that's not their game. It's the slaves they believe
we've got in the hold that they're after; so, if they bring their boat-
gun into play you'll find that it'll be our top-hamper they'll aim at,
so as to cripple us. They'll not hull us if they can help it."

"Well, they shall not set foot upon this deck if I can help it," said I.
"Pass the word for the boatswain to come aft, Pringle, if you please.
He will probably be able to tell us whether there are any boarding-
nettings in the ship. If there are, we will reeve and bend the tricing
lines at once, and see all clear for tricing up the nets."

"Ay," assented the gunner. "I think you'll be wise in so doing, sir;
there's nothing like being prepared. Pass the word for the boatswain to
come aft," he added, to the little group of men constituting the watch,
who were busy on the forecastle.

The word was passed, and presently the boatswain came along.

"Boatswain," said I, "have you given the spare gear of this craft an
overhaul as yet?"

"Well, sir, I have, and I haven't, as you may say," answered that
functionary. "I knows, in a general sort of a way, what we've got
aboard of us, but I haven't examined anything in detail, so to speak.
The fact is, seeing that the trip was likely to be only a short one, and
we've been kept pretty busy since we joined the hooker, I've found
plenty el