the pirate brig. The people, who had probably
been at their dinners when we before passed, were now some of them
aloft, fitting the rigging, and others working on deck. It required,
therefore, careful management on our part to take them by surprise. We
pulled up, as if we were going to pass them at some little distance on
the starboard side. The men imitated admirably the lubberly, sluggish
fashion in which some merchant seamen handle their oars. Just as we
were abeam, each of the two men pulling our port oars pretended to catch
crabs, and this suddenly brought the boat broadside on to the brig's
side. Before, however, we could hook on, even the hands aloft seemed to
suspect that something was not right, and came sliding down the rigging.
But notwithstanding this, we were too quick for them, and before they
could get below to alarm the rest, the party under the tarpaulin had
thrown it off, and we all together sprung up the sides, and attacked
every one we encountered. Some fought desperately. One fellow tried to
throw himself overboard; but we soon overpowered them, and had them
lashed hands and feet. To rush into the cabin was the work of a moment.
The door was locked, but we burst it open. The noise made the captain,
who was in his hammock, start up. He gazed at us for a moment, wildly
and fiercely, and then drawing a pistol from under his pillow, fired it
at us. The ball passed close to Mr Vernon's ear, and buried itself in
the bulkhead. With a savage oath, the pirate was drawing out another
pistol, when we threw ourselves on him and seized his arms. The weapon
went off in the struggle, and very nearly finished my career--the ball
actually taking off the rim of my tarpaulin hat. Before he could make
any further resistance, three of our people followed us into the cabin,
and we soon had him, with his arms lashed behind him, and his feet
secured together. While the operation was going on, he glanced at us
like a tiger, but did not utter a word. The remaining few of the
pirates, who had been asleep forward in their hammocks, had been secured
without resistance. I looked round for Myers, or the man I had taken
for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Just as we had finished securing Delano, I bethought me that I smelt an
unusual sulphurous odour. A dreadful suspicion had seized me. Outside
the main cabin was a door, leading to a smaller one. I forced it open,
with a strength I did not think myself ca