e, they had no
means of knowing.

As they lay flat on their faces in the rank grass, peeping through the
luxuriant undergrowth, they could see that two men paced the deck with
musket on shoulder as if on guard, but no other human beings were
visible.

"Shall we go forward and trust them as honest traders?" asked Sam in a
whisper.

"I think not," replied Slagg; "if all's true that one hears, there is
not much honesty afloat in them seas. My advice is to stay where we are
and see what turns up."

"What think you, Robin?"

Robin was of opinion that they should trust the strangers and go
forward. Stumps agreed with him, but Sam thought with Slagg. Their
indecision, however, was cut short by a most startling occurrence.

While they were yet whispering together, the sound of voices was heard
in the distance. Our castaways at once sank flatter into the grass, and
became mute.

In a few minutes the voices drew gradually nearer, until they were quite
close to the alarmed watchers. Suddenly, from among the bushes on the
other side of an open space just in front of them, there issued a band
of men, walking in single file. Their appearance might have aroused
grave anxiety in the most unsuspecting breast, for, besides possessing
faces in which the effects of dissipation and evil passions were plainly
stamped, they were armed--as the saying is--to the teeth, with short
swords, cavalry pistols, and carbines. They were dressed in varied
Eastern costume, and appeared to be of Malay origin, though some bore
closer resemblance to the Chinese.

The man who marched in advance--evidently the leader of the band--was
unusually tall and powerful, with a remarkably stern, but not altogether
forbidding, countenance.

"Pirates!" whispered Slagg.

"Looks like them, but may be smugglers," replied Sam in the same
cautious tone.

Even Robin's unsuspecting and inexperienced nature would not permit him
to believe that they were honest traders. Had any doubts on the subject
lingered in their minds, these would have been effectually cleared away
by the scenes which immediately followed.

While the pirates were still at some distance from the shore, sudden
shouts and yells came from the vessel, which had, up to that time, been
lying so peacefully at anchor, and it was at once clear that a furious
hand-to-hand fight was taking place upon her deck.

"It must be the poor slaves who have risen," whispered Sam.

The pirates had drawn